SportsTalk: Louisburg College Football Headed To JUCO National Title Game

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UPDATE – FINAL SCORE 

College of DuPage 31

Louisburg College 14

Hurricanes finish the season at 8-3

Congratulations on a Great Season Louisburg!

Go Hurricanes!

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SportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th

Louisburg College Head Football Coach Quinderra Spellman joins SportsTalk with Scout Hughes and George Hoyle to talk about the Hurricanes great season, as they prepare for the NJCAA DIII National Championship Game.

Louisburg College will play the College of DuPage this Saturday, December 7th, 2024 in the NJCAA DIII Football National Championship Game. Kickoff will be at 1:00pm EST. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+. For those that want to cheer on the Hurricanes in Chicago the address to the stadium is College of DuPage Stadium, College Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.

Go Hurricanes!

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Franklin County DSS “Tree Of Hope”

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Franklin County Department of Social Services is seeking help from the community to fulfill the hopes and wishes of our foster children this year.

Franklin County DSS — in partnership with Wal-Mart in Louisburg– has a “Tree of Hope” located at the front entrance of the store with paper ornaments that represent a child in foster care. Each ornament has a list of wishes for a child that can be donated to help put a smile on a child’s face this year.

Those considering sponsoring a child this year can pick an ornament from the tree and deliver the unwrapped gifts to the Louisburg Wal-Mart Service Desk or DSS located at 107-A Industrial Drive, Louisburg NC 27549 by Dec. 13.

If you have any questions or would like to donate toys for other children DSS serves, please contact Susan Weathers at 919.496.8171 or call the main number at 919. 496.5721.

$2M In ARPA Funds To Help Franklin Schools Get HVAC Upgrades

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 — Information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners approved more than $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for Franklin County Schools HVAC capital needs.

Commissioners approved assigning of the remaining $2,564,623 of ARPA funds to FCS as a subrecipient for approved HVAC projects – which make up a significant portion of the capital needs for FCS as submitted in its needs request.

“I think this is a great way for Franklin County to help Franklin County Schools with its capital needs,” said Board of Commissioner Chairman David Bunn. “Utilizing these remaining funds will help our schools with their upcoming projects.”

After passage of recent state legislation, the previous funding of a $2 million match by Franklin County for the NC Department of Information Technology Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program became available because the program is now funded by a combination of state and federal funds. The remaining ARPA funds would have to be utilized according to the stringent ARPA rules or be returned.

Vance County Logo

The Local Skinny! Vance County Commissioners Give Bonuses To All County Employees

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All Vance County employees will get a one-time bonus in next week’s pay period – $500 for all part-time staff and $1,000 for full-time staff. The approximately $280,000 will come from the fund balance.

The Vance County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation from the Human Resources Committee presented by Assistant County Manager Jeremy Jones at their regular monthly meeting on Monday.

County Manager C. Renee Perry recommended that the board cease paying exempt employees overtime pay when they volunteer to take extra shifts because of staffing shortages; rather, they will get comp time for the additional hours worked.

Perry told the board that is what is spelled out in the county’s personnel policy, but that policy hasn’t been followed for several years.

This comes amidst a countywide salary study, the results of which are not yet available. “I believe that when the study is done, it will fix itself,” she said of the overtime issue and the pay scale for employees.

As part of internal control procedures, Perry said she reviews employee timesheets and can see the hours that staff turn in. “Now that we’re catching it, we need to go with the personnel policy,” she told commissioners. My recommendation is to stop the straight time pay,” she said. “Consistency is key.”

Money to fund the overtime had been available from lapsed salaries and from funds allocated for positions that have not been filled, but Perry said not all departments have those extra funds.

“It’s not fair to pay one group and not another,” she said.

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TownTalk: Oxford’s “The Sacred Witness” Military Art Mural

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About half a block off one of the main downtown streets in Oxford is something quite unique – in fact, it’s the first of its kind for the city. It’s a mural with a military theme and it tells a story that artist Aletha Williams wants to share with the community.

An unveiling was held at 4 p.m. Thursday to officially introduce to the public the 1200-square foot creation, during which Williams planned to talk about the significance of the mural and why it’s important to her and to other military veterans who may struggle to re-enter civilian life.

As a disabled military veteran, she said she has struggled with mental health issues associated with her service and with several traumatic events in her life. She said she understands only too well the difficulties veterans face as they leave family, friends and community and enter military service, and then when they come back home. The challenges are many and they can take their toll, she said. This mural captures some of the feelings and emotions of a veteran’s journey.

The mural is located at 117 Wall St., on one of the exterior brick walls of Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. Williams said it took her and a small team of volunteers and another artist 35 workdays to complete.

The team helped until the project was close to halfway finished, and then Williams took over from there to complete.

When you visit the mural – and Williams invites ex-military and civilians alike to stop by, take a look and reflect on its message – you’ll see painted near the middle an open book. That’s where the title of the artwork will be written: The Sacred Witness.

No matter how the art speaks to those who come to view it, Williams said “it will mean something to everyone,” soldier or not. She wants the mural to stand for the community coming together to support veterans and their service.

All branches of the military are represented in the mural, she said, as the “story” unfolds across the brick wall in a collage effect.

Williams moved to the area a couple of years ago from the state of Washington, and since then, she’s been working on a way to show support for military veterans.

Once the mural was down on paper, it went before city leaders for approval. With a grant from the N.C. Arts Council and “a collaboration of partners,” the labor of love was transformed into a work of art.

“For me, art allows me to be in that sweet spot…I can just be my natural, authentic self,” Williams said.

Whatever emotions the mural may evoke, Williams encourages viewers to just pause for a moment and reflect on how to support veterans in a positive manner as they find their way as a member of the community and transition from military service.

When she’s not creating murals, Williams concentrates on being an integrative wellness life coach and completing a doctorate in body wellness. Her business is called Inner Starr Compass Healing. Learn more at https://www.innerstarrcompasshealing.com/.

Post a photo and leave a comment about your experience with the mural on her Facebook and Instagram accounts:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/innerstarrcompasshealing

https://www.instagram.com/innerstarrcompasshealing/

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Clarke Elementary Family Resource Center Open For Business

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Clarke Elementary now has a Community Schools Family Resource Center, and school and community leaders celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning.

The Family Resource Center will serve as a hub to connect families with resources ranging from academic support to access to health and community programs, according to information from school officials.

There’s a food pantry and a clothes closet, with all items free of charge to those in need.

Clarke Elementary Principal Dr. C’Monee Wilkins and Community Schools Coordinator Krystle Lindsey, along with Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott, Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson and others marked the official opening of the resource center.

The Family Resource Center is a one-stop shop to provide guidance, connect families to valuable services and strengthen community partnerships.

The resource center is located in Room 121, right across from the front office.

It’s open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but is also open by appointment. Please contact Lindsey at klindsey@vcs.k12.nc.us to learn more.

In addition to food and clothing, families can access other services, including laundry machines and access to shower facilities and computers.

‘Festival Of Trees’ Sign-Up Extended Through Dec. 12

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The City of Henderson’s Downtown Development Commission invites you to join in the fun and participate in the Festival of Trees that will be on display for the Very Merry Henderson Holiday Fest on Saturday, Dec. 7 and beyond.

Participation is free for businesses, organizations and individuals. The Festival of Trees will be held in the gallery between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library. Reserve a space by contacting Tracy Madigan at 252.425.0844 or email tracymadigan@henderson.nc.gov.

Here are a few friendly guidelines to keep in mind:

  • No live trees – only artificial trees
  • Set up Thursday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 6 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon; Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 9-12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • If your tree is lighted, please bring your own 10-foot or 20-foot extension cord
Duke Energy

Duke Energy Customers Will See Slight Drop In Rate Prices

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The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved the Duke Energy Progress request to lower customer rates by 4.5 percent.

The lower rates begin this month.  In a message to WIZS, Duke Energy’s Local Government and Community Relations Manager Beth Townsend said, “It’s important to note that with the cold snap we’re having right now, most customers are using more energy compared to last month – we had a very warm fall. If you’re running your heat around the clock, your next bill will be higher of course – but it will be 4.5 percent lower than what it would have been under the old rates.”

In a press release from Townsend, it’s indicated that Duke Energy Progress residential customer rates in North Carolina will decrease 4.5 percent as part of an annual adjustment for the cost of fuel used to generate electricity at the utility’s power plants.

The release said, “A typical residential customer in North Carolina using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will see an overall decrease of $7.34, or about 4.5 percent lower than prior rates… That is 11 percent below the national average of $174.21 – a difference of approximately $235 per year.”

Commercial customers will benefit too, from an average decrease of about 6.3 percent, while industrial customers will see an average decrease of less than 0.1 percent.

Duke Energy Progress serves about 1.5 million customers in central and eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh, as well as the Asheville region.

24-Year-Old Henderson Woman Dead From Gunshot Wound In Tuesday Altercation

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— information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

 

A 24-year-old Henderson woman is dead and another woman has been charged in connection with the shooting death that happened on Vance Street Tuesday afternoon.

According to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, officers went to the 800 block of Vance Street about 4:15 p.m. on a report of a shooting.

When they arrived, they located several individuals, including the victim, Ja’neta Teiona Wynn and the suspect, Shamiar Carter, 40, also of Henderson. Wynn was found to have been struck by gunfire and was transported immediately to an area hospital where she soon after succumbed to her injuries.

Information gathered indicated that an altercation occurred with several individuals involved, which led to the suspect discharging her firearm. Carter remained on scene and was detained by law enforcement soon after arrival. The suspected firearm was also located and seized along with several other items of evidence.

Carter has been charged with the homicide and has been remanded to the Vance County Detention Facility without bond.

We are thankful for the information and cooperation we received from the public during this matter. We would appreciate any other information the public may have that might prove helpful. Please feel free to contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or P3 app, at 252.438.4141, or through Facebook Messenger.