Vance County NC

City Seeking Grant for Park at Corner of Williams/Montgomery St.

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At the corner of Williams and Montgomery Streets in Henderson, NC used to stand the Vance Hotel. The big beauty burned to the ground in the early 1980s. Now the City of Henderson plans to revitalize the area with a park.

When asked if the City was moving forward with the item that appeared on the agenda of Monday night’s Henderson City Council meeting, City Manager Frank Frazier told WIZS News, ”Yes – seeking a grant to help pay for this, so the project would be contingent on receiving it. This is the old Vance Hotel site. City originally bought this for the police station.”

If received, the grant could total some $500k for the project.

If you’d like to see a picture of the old hotel, which most people younger than 40 never saw while it was still standing, check it out at facebook.com/wizsradio.

NC Drivers May Soon Face Stricter Restrictions on Cell Phone Use

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State lawmakers are working on getting a bill passed that would ban NC drivers from talking on their cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.

HB 144 proposes fines for first offenses of talking on the phone while driving. Subsequent convictions would result in fines and insurance points.

Exceptions would allow drivers to talk on cell phones while parked. Drivers 18 and older would also be able to use a mounted cell phone if the call could be placed and ended with a single button.

Drivers who experience emergency situations and emergency responders are exempt under the proposed bill.

The bill needs the approval of the House, Senate and NC governor to officially become law.

According to a car accident lawyer Daytona beach, North Carolina currently bans texting while driving for all drivers and talking while driving for those younger than 18 and all school bus drivers.

In last week’s Town Talk interview with North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey, the topic of HB 144 was briefly discussed.

“Distracted driving is the leading cause of deadly accidents today,” said Causey. “Texting and talking while driving have killed so many people needlessly.”

Causey believes the bill, which has been brought up several times in past years, will pass this go around thanks to “broad bipartisan support.”

“The time is now right with the number of deadly accidents and the pressure it’s putting on raising auto insurance rates. It’s a common sense safety move that would also help hold down insurance rates.”

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss Architect for DSS Relocation

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

The following committee meeting will be held in the Administrative Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC:

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 2:30 p.m.

– Architect for DSS Relocation

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Board of Education to Hear Updates on School System Finances

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet Monday, March 25, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina for the purpose of receiving a presentation and updates from staff on School System finances.

The Board will also enter closed session pursuant to General Statutes 143-318.11(a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(6) to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel files under G.S. 115C-321, to consider matters relating to employee performance, and to consult with the Board’s attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege.

The next regular scheduled Board meeting is Monday, April 1, 2019, at 6 p.m.

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Senior Services Invites Ages 50+ to ‘Get Walking’

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government’s Facebook page

If you’re age 50-plus, Granville County Senior Services invites you to participate in a “Get Walking” class, a part of the “Fit Past Fifty” exercise program. This class features an easy stroll around Granville Athletic Park while mixing in easy-to-perform exercises and stretches.

“Get Walking” meets at the park each Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. (There is no class if raining.)

Contact Justin Waller, Fitness Program Coordinator, at (919) 693-1930 for more information.

Franklinton Police Seeking Public’s Assistance in Homicide Investigation

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-Information and photos courtesy the Franklinton Police Department’s Facebook page

The Franklinton Police Department is seeking public assistance in identifying the two individuals pictured below. These individuals are persons of interest in a homicide investigation.

The homicide occurred on January 18, 2019, on Fairlane Ave. in Franklinton. If anyone was in the area between 7 and 7:30 p.m. and saw anything, contact Franklinton Police Department at (919) 494-2888 ext 107 or ext 105.

Information can also be given by calling the State Bureau of Investigations tip line at 1-800-334-3000. INFORMATION CAN BE ANONYMOUS.

News 03/13/19

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Walt Bowen Talks Fishing on Kerr Lake

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Walt Bowen, a name often associated with Kerr Lake fishing, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the lake’s vast potential and to provide a fishing “tall tale” or two.

Bowen, a Henderson native and retired IT executive for Sara Lee and Hanes, said he and his son started fishing on Kerr Lake approximately 25 years ago and have been hooked ever since. “It’s a competition that’s almost like an addiction,” said Bowen.

Participating in numerous fishing and angling tournaments over the years, Bowen almost reached the professional level in 2018. “I’m not quite at the professional level yet, but I’ve gotten very close,” Bowen said.

When not on the lake fishing, Bowen enjoys writing about fishing. As the author of “On the Water,” a weekly fishing column that runs in the Sports section of The Daily Dispatch on Sundays, Bowen is able to share his experiences and suggestions.

“I’ve been writing that column for 13 years now and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Bowen said. “I was reading the paper one day and I thought ‘they don’t have a fishing report.’ I contacted the sports editor about starting a fishing column, and that’s how it got started. That column has helped me develop many new relationships.”

Bowen has also written several magazine articles for the North Carolina Sportsman.

In addition to the enjoyment of fishing on Kerr Lake, Bowen said he sees the financial potential of the area. “Angling and tournament fishing are financial generators. A lake like Kerr Lake that has nice, open and plentiful parking and boat ramps like you find at Nutbush should attract people.”

Bowen said the return of bigger fishing tournaments like the ones held in the 1970s would be a huge boost to the local economy. This sentiment was shared in WIZS’ recent interview with the Vance County Tourism Development Authority who stated attracting larger tournaments was a high priority.

“We need to get the word out that this is a world-class fishery, which it is, so we can draw folks here. The recent Fishing University show helped to get the word out, but we need to continue to spread that message,” said Bowen.

As far as good fishing stories, Bowen chuckled and said he has plenty of those. One of the best ones he has heard about Kerr Lake involves a high school teacher and football coach catching a “world-record 143-lb. blue catfish” in the lake in 2011.

“You always hear the stories of catfish as big as men; turns out they’re true,” laughed Bowen.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Walt Bowen in its entirety, click here.

Faith Dove

Grace Ministries to Offer FREE Soup, Sandwich & Prayer Event

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Grace Ministries is offering FREE soup, sandwich and a prayer on Saturday, March 16, 2019, from 11 a.m. until the food is gone.

The giveaway will be held at the old Century Link building at 855 Burr Street in Henderson, NC (enter from Crozier Street).

For more information, call Bobby at (252) 432-7124.

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Granville Chamber Announces 2019 ‘Alive After Five’ Dates

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— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

The Board of Directors of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce information for our three 2019 events.

Beginning Thursday, May 23 in downtown Oxford’s parking lot between Main and Gilliam Streets, the first Alive After Five will feature “THE EMBERS” Band.

On Thursday, August 15, “THE ATTRACTIONS” Band will be entertainers for the second concert in Creedmoor in the VanNess Chevrolet parking lot, 107 West Lyon Street, Creedmoor.

Completing the season will be “Jim Quick and Coastline Band” in Oxford on Thursday, September 12.

This is the sixteenth year that the Chamber has organized Alive After Five events for the public. All events are held from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m.

The continued sponsorships of local businesses and industries enable the Chamber to provide these community-oriented gatherings. Businesses who are interested in sponsorship opportunities may contact the Chamber for sponsorship details.

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 at 919.528.4994 or 919.693.6125.