Open Broadband

Part of Agreement Commissioners Approve Means Free Wifi Downtown and in Kittrell

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The Vance County Commissioners approved an agreement Monday with an Internet broadband provider that will bring free Wi-Fi to parts of downtown Henderson and to the town of Kittrell.

County Manager Jordan D. McMillen said the Wi-Fi Zone agreement is a joint effort between the city and the county and begins a five-year commitment with Open Broadband, LLC.

“Now that the agreement has been signed it will take a few weeks or months for them to order the equipment and determine the areas downtown for equipment to be located,” McMillen said in a written statement to WIZS. Next steps include identifying downtown business owners to partner with Open Broadband to place antennas.

The plan is it to have Wi-Fi available in the general area between Orange Street and Rose Avenue along Garnett Street, as well as along the side streets which extend to Chestnut Street, McMillen added. “We are excited about this initiative and (are) glad to partner with the City to make it happen,” he said. The free public Wi-Fi for Kittrell will be available within the town limits.

Open Broadband, LLC is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that seeks to bring broadband internet service to underserved markets and rural areas, according to information provided on its website. It provides service in about 20 North Carolina counties.

Warren County Logo

Warren County Public Utilities to Increase Water Tap Fees Beginning February 1st

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— press release courtesy of Warren County Government

Warren County, North Carolina — At their first meeting of the new year, the Warren County Board of Commissioners took action on a recommendation from Warren County Public Utilities to increase water tap fees due to the rising cost of materials. This increase will be effective February 1, 2021.

New customers to the system will be required to pay $1,200 for a ¾” tap and $1,500 for a 1” tap. Previous costs had been $950 and $1100 respectively.

Tap fees help to cover the costs of adding new customers to the countywide water system. Since April of 2020, there has been a slow but continuing cost increase on tapping materials and supplies, most likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Macon Robertson, Warren County Public Utilities Director on an interim basis.

“We are proud of our countywide water system and the level of service we are able to provide when it comes to this enterprise,” said Tare Davis, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Commissioners. “Maintaining a high quality of service also means we have to take into account rising costs and adjust fees accordingly. The Board felt it was important that existing customers not assume the costs for new customers joining the system. We feel confident that this adjustment for new customers is reasonable and needed.”

The North Carolina Rural Water Association assisted the county in its evaluation of the current tapping fee schedule.

In North Carolina, counties and municipalities are allowed to engage in activities of a commercial nature; these activities are all public enterprises. The majority of public enterprises are self-supporting; local governments are allowed to generate income from user charges to supporting the operating and capital expenses of the service. Water supply and distribution is a public enterprise.

Questions regarding the tap fee increase should be directed to Warren County Public Utilities at 252-257-3645.

PLANT TREES TO HELP PROTECT DRINKING WATER

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— Tar River Land Conservancy Press Release

BUTNER/STEM – Tar River Land Conservancy (TRLC) is seeking volunteers to plant hardwood tree seedlings on conservation land located at 831 Roberts Chapel Road in Granville County. Seedlings will be planted near streams to protect drinking water supplied by Lake Holt and Falls Lake. Tree planting events will take place from 8:45 AM to 12:00 PM on
these dates:

Friday, January 22, 2021
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Friday, January 29, 2021
Saturday, January 30, 2021

No previous tree planting experience is necessary to volunteer. TRLC will provide tools and instruction on proper tree planting techniques. Tree planting holes will be pre-dug before volunteers arrive. Participants should wear weather-appropriate work clothing, work gloves and a hat. TRLC welcomes any business team, church group, school club, or Scout troop interested in participating as a group. Participants will be asked to follow safety protocols to limit exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

For more information or to register, please contact Alex Hall at TRLC at 919-496-5902 or volunteer@tarriver.org.

Families Living Violence Free

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

— from Families Living Violence Free

January is National Stalking Awareness Month!
Know it. Name it. Stop it.

January 2021 marks the seventeenth annual National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), an annual call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking.

If you or someone you know are being stalked, Families Living Violence Free is here to help! Call our 24/7 Crisis Line at 919-693-5700; Español 919-690-0888.

A real person will answer 24/7.  You can call from anywhere.

At Least There Will Be Girl Scout Cookies; Local Sales Start Jan.16

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The countdown to cookie season is almost here! In just over a week, area residents will see the colorful boxes in the hands of local Girl Scouts, many familiar types and one new variety to enjoy. Each box is $5.

Sales kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 and conclude on March 7. In addition to the traditional door-to-door sales and tables outside big box stores and groceries, Teresa Wimbrow, local membership director for the North Carolina Coastal Pines Council, reminds anyone looking to satisfy their cookie craving can order online by visiting  https://www.nccoastalpines.org/.

She said, “Some who live in neighborhoods will be knocking on doors but that practice is being discouraged for safety reasons and because of Covid. ”

The troops are “quite competitive in normal times” and Winbrow hopes that this year’s cookie sale will be another success. “We’ve never sold cookies in a pandemic before,” she said, and expressed gratitude that Walmart is allowing the troops to set up their booths again this year. Customers can find the cookie booths outside retailers such as Walmart by Jan. 24. All the scouts and the adult volunteers will wear masks and will follow all state-directed pandemic protocols. Expect to see them in operation on Saturdays and Sundays, Winbrow added.

Winbrow oversees Girl Scout troops in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. Franklin County has 11 troops, Granville has 10, Vance has 4 and Warren has 2 troops. Anyone interested in learning more about Girl Scout membership or volunteering can contact Winbrow. “The cookie sale usually sparks some interest,” she said, adding that the troops do get some new members during and after the cookie sale.

This year’s cookie list has favorites customers have been gobbling down for years, but there is a new cookie called Toast-Yay!, a French toast-inspired flavor. Traditional favorites such as Thin Mint, Shortbread, Tag-along and Do-si-do are all available as well, Wimbrow said.

Most of the local troops will pick up their cookies at a Durham warehouse this Saturday in advance of the Jan. 16 opening day. Proceeds from the cookie sale support troop activities such as trips and other outings, but the girls also choose to support land donate to local programs in their area.

For more information about scouting, visit the North Carolina Coastal Pines website at  https://www.nccoastalpines.org/. Contact Winbrow at 252.438.8103 or twimbrow@nccoastalpines.org.

Local News Audio

Noon News 1-7-21 Vaccine Hotline; ACTS Fish Fry; Possible Snow

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Stories include: I

– Information on the Covid 19 vaccine hotline from Granville Vance Public Health

– ACTS fish fry fundraiser

– Chance of snow in the local forecast

For full details and audio click play.

 

Local News Audio

WIZS Noon News Audio 01-06-21: VGCC; Property Tax; Farmers Market; Weather

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The WIZS Noon News Audio with stories including:

  • Registration Deadline for VGCC Spring Classes
  • Property Tax Deadline
  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Committee Meeting
  • Police News
  • Weather/Snow

 

ACTS Fundraiser: Fish Fry at 220 February 1st

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A big ACTS fundraiser will happen February 1st.  Area Christians Together in Service will host a fish fry at 220 Seafood.

Dinner includes trout, fries and coleslaw.  Take out only.  4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  For a modest price, you’ll receive a generous portion of food, and you’ll be supporting a great, local cause.

“People can come by ACTS to purchase tickets from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. or from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. any weekday,” Lee Anne Peoples, executive director at ACTS, told WIZS News.

At that same location, 201 S. William Street, you can also drop off a donation of non-perishable food and more.

Vance County Logo

Have You Paid Your 2020 Property Tax?

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Property taxes for 2020 have been due for a while, but the last day to pay without penalty was today (January 5).

Starting January 6th, two percent (2%) interest begins on unpaid taxes per North Carolina General Statute.

There is an online payment option by credit card, with a fee, and if your bank or card provider allows a large enough transaction to submit the payment. The address online is ccpaymentservice.com. Then, you fill in the blanks and provide a card number. You are warned about the fee prior to hitting submit.

You can also pay by phone at 888-571-6087.

Vance County has provided extra warnings on its web page too, online at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/tax-overview/.

The page reads, “ATTENTION TAXPAYERS: In light of the current health crisis, we urge taxpayers who traditionally pay taxes in person during December and early January to pay: by mail 122 Young St., Ste E, Henderson NC 27536; by credit/debit card (processing fees applied); or call 1-888-571-6087; or by drop box located in the hallway outside our office. Since we are allowing only three people in the office at a time, this will avoid sizable wait times and also help us avoid close gatherings of people. In office visit, you must have on a face covering.”

Henderson Police Department

18 Year Old Gunshot Victim Taken To Hospital But Died

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Press Release:

On Monday afternoon, January 4, 2021 at approximately 3:41PM, Officers of the Henderson Police Department were called to our local emergency department in reference to a person being treated for a gunshot wound.

When responders arrived, they were advised that 18-year-old, Antonio Williams Jr. of Henderson had arrived by private vehicle, and the individuals that brought him had left. Mr. Williams succumbed to his injury shortly after.

After interviews and the community’s assistance, investigators of the Henderson Police Department determined Williams was shot near the intersection of Wester Avenue and East Winder Street in Henderson.

Investigators are searching for the vehicle occupied by Williams during the incident. It is a 2016, dark grey, Kia Optima, NC License Plate #HLZ-4675.

The community has been a tremendous help thus far in this continued investigation. If anyone has more information about this incident, 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.

Marcus W. Barrow
Chief of Police
Henderson Police Department
Henderson, N.C.