Daeke, Henderson City Councilman, Talks Dabney Dr. Rezoning
Garry Daeke, Henderson City Council member, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to provide further insight into the Council’s recent discussions on the possible rezoning of three lots at the corner of Lynne Avenue and Dabney Drive in Henderson.
Currently zoned for either residential or light commercial traffic, the Council has tabled the discussion on rezoning the lots for a heavier commercial use until their next meeting in February.
Further complicating any final rezoning decision is the concern over increased traffic volume in an already congested area along with uncertainty on the NCDOT’s current plans for the restructuring of parts of Dabney Drive.
“We know traffic on Dabney Drive is pretty bad most of the time, especially on Fridays and weekend,” said Daeke. “The corner of Lynne Avenue and Dabney has some particular concerns about ingress and egress traffic. For example, when you turn right off Lynne Avenue, you turn immediately into the right lane turning into the old Henderson Mall. Traffic also has difficulty turning left there and generally has to turn right.”
Daeke said one consideration to address safety concerns would be to make the area an out parcel of the mall and design the entrance and exits of any businesses that occupy that space to be accessible only through the mall parking lot.
According to Daeke, what the DOT has planned for Dabney Drive will also play into consideration. “We hope what the DOT does to Dabney Drive will help with that area, but we need more information before making a decision.”
As of now, Henderson City Council members are aware that the DOT is focusing its Dabney Drive surveying efforts from the intersection of the old mall to Interstate 85.
While Daeke said there have been talks that the lanes near the old mall intersection will be redesigned, the Council has not yet received an indication if that includes measures such as adding medians or changing the entire structure of the traffic flow.
Looking ahead to the future, Daeke said there are additional plans for Dabney Drive that include making the current road a one-way from the corner of Oxford Road and Dabney, all the way to the interstate. This plan also includes the addition of another one-way street running parallel along the old railroad line.
As with any project, costs and logistics are major considerations. “Some properties would be affected by this plan and that issue would need to be addressed. The plan we’ve been shown includes bike and pedestrian lanes and sidewalks; it’s a beautiful plan,” said Daeke.
While up to the DOT to fund any such project, Daeke said he believes “Dabney Drive needs it for growth in the future and for safety.” He suggested the implementation of the plan would be at least 5-10 years down the road.
Remembrance:
In an aside from the main interview topic, Daeke also discussed his fond memories of the late Mary Emma Evans, a former Henderson City Council member, on the occasion of her recent birthday.
“Mary was a sweet lady and a dear friend. She always called me ‘Daeke,’ which made me laugh. She always cared so much for the community and was wonderful to work with.”
“Something that she used to always say to me that I’ll never forget is, ‘We can disagree and we can have different opinions; that doesn’t have to mean we have to be disagreeable.’ She was always about compromise and working together to find a solution. We miss her and may she rest in peace”
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here. Daeke’s interview portion of the Town Talk segment begins at the 14:27 mark.
Reminder: Vance Co. Board to Hold Work Session on Fire Restructuring – Jan. 23
Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, County of Vance
The Vance County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at 1 p.m. in the commissioners’ conference room. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss fire restructuring.
The work session is open to the public; however, public comments will not be taken.
Lunch will be provided to the Board members at 12:30 p.m.
Mark Your Calendar: Free OTC Medicine Giveaway at Warrenton Armory
-Information courtesy the Norlina Police Department’s Facebook Page
A free over the counter medicine giveaway will be held Thursday, February 21, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Warrenton Armory located at 501 US 158 Business East in Warrenton.
Items include cold, cough and flu medicine, pain and allergy relief, vitamins and children’s medicine. Items will be given away for free while supplies last.
No ID is required, but you must be 18 or older to participate.
This program is made possible by NC Med Assist, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and the Warren County Health Department. For more information, visit www.medassist.org.
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Vance Co. Technology Committee to Discuss Broadband at Jan. 28 Meeting
-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners
Vance County’s Technology Committee (Brummitt, Feimster, Taylor) is scheduled to meet Monday, January 28, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss broadband.
Granville Co. Sheriff’s Office to Hold Relay For Life Stew Sale
-Information courtesy the Granville County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page
The Granville County Sheriff’s Office will hold a Stew Sale to raise funds for Relay For Life on Friday, February 8, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost is $7 per quart. Pick up locations include:
Granville County Sheriff’s Office – Parking lot on Watkins St. in Oxford
Sheriff’s Satellite Office – 1546 South Campus Dr. in Creedmoor (NC 56 by VGCC’s Creedmoor Campus)
Preorders call (919) 693-3213 or (919) 528-9489.
Proceeds will be used for cancer research, education and advocacy.
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Terry Garrison, NC House Rep. & Local Business Owner, Talks MLK Legacy
District 32 NC House representative and local businessman Terry Garrison was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the day’s remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Observed the third Monday of January each year since 1986, the federal holiday honors King near his actual birthday of January 15. Many churches and community organizations in the local area held celebrations and events in remembrance both today and over the weekend.
Garrison, who attended both the Granville County Human Relations Annual Fellowship at Oxford Baptist Church and an MLK remembrance celebration at Spring St. Missionary Baptist Church in Henderson early Monday morning said the messages were very similar – keeping the dream alive.
“The message focused on the efforts we need to put forward to help fulfill the dream,” said Garrison.
Garrison said he personally became aware of King around 1955 during the events of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama. “King was an icon, a prophet, a Moses of the 20th century,” explained Garrison. “He is, what I consider, to be the father of the civil rights movement.”
In addition to being perhaps the most famous figure in the movement, Garrison reminded listeners that King was also a minister who preached a message of “justice, equality, peace and love.”
“King was a minister of the gospel and preached about loving God and loving your fellow man. There’s only one supreme being. There’s no man who is a supreme being, only God. Mankind was made from one clay; we all have the same blood. Once we embrace and begin to love and respect each other, we can get a lot of things done and put favoritism aside,” stated Garrison.
To do his part to help fulfill King’s dream, Garrison said he serves in leadership roles with several organizations that assist the African-American community, including the Henderson-Vance Black Leadership Caucus, where he serves as president.
“The Black Leadership Caucus focuses on helping blacks and persons of color get elected to office who are focused on helping improve the quality of life for all citizens, particularly the African-American community,” said Garrison “I take a lot of pride in working with that organization.”
Garrison also works with the NAACP and other community organizations to “to help people register to vote, feed the hungry and help those with housing issues.”
For more information on these organizations, Garrison invites you to contact him by phone at (252) 432-3577 or (252) 438-6363.
To hear the interview with Terry Garrison in its entirety, please click here. Garrison’s portion of the Town Talk segment begins at the 11:05 mark.
Dabney Dr. Surveying Project to Last Several Months, Help Solve Traffic Woes
-Information and photo courtesy the Citizens Aligned to Take Back Henderson, NC’s Facebook page
We are all too familiar with the traffic problems on Dabney Drive in Henderson. Thankfully, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has started the process of addressing this problem.
Have you noticed the surveying that has taken place in recent weeks? This is just the beginning of the process. Representatives from the NCDOT, including engineers, surveyors, and geologists as well as representatives from other state and federal agencies will be working in the area for the next several months. They will be collecting preliminary data for an environmental study for the project on SR 1162 (Dabney Drive) from Coble Blvd. to US 158 Business.
Can traffic problems be solved? Of course they can, and this is done every day. Like Dabney Drive, Ruin Creek Road also handles a large amount of traffic but without the problems.
The traffic on I-85 is expected to increase drastically over the next decade and so will the traffic on Dabney Drive. This can be viewed as a negative or as an opportunity. With the right long term plan and investment, it can undoubtedly be a great opportunity for Henderson.
Naysayers will say “this can’t work and it’s a waste of money” but that’s just what naysayers do. In reality, millions of tax dollars are going to be spent on infrastructure in the City of Henderson that will promote investment and make life in our city better.
Citizens Aligned to Take Back Henderson, NC sees this as a positive.
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Warren County High School Students Visit DOT Project Site
-Press Release, NCDOT
A group of seniors in Warren County High School’s Engineering and Construction Technology Academy visited an N.C. Department of Transportation bridge replacement project today to get a closer look at the work underway.
As part of NCDOT’s Engineering Technician I Trainee Program for private engineering firms, the students are receiving instruction and support from several Summit Design and Engineering Services engineers. The program is designed to quickly prepare individuals for entry-level engineering technician positions through in-class instruction, field trips to job sites, job shadowing and on-the-job training.
The students had the chance this afternoon to observe work done by crews replacing the Lickskillet Road bridge extending over Shocco Creek in Warren County.
When not out on field experiences or training, students also get classroom instruction and support from a dedicated Warren County High School construction technology teacher Monday thru Thursday, and weekly visits from Summit engineers and designers who travel to the high school every Friday during the semester.
“The program is a true partnership between the school district and industry,” said Ernie Conner, Warren County High School’s Director of Technology/Career and Technical Education, “Our students respond well when we can link what they are learning in school to real-world applications and job opportunities. Summit Engineering has been instrumental in helping us provide a clear career pathway from school to work.”
The students can participate in this program because they are enrolled in the advanced studies course offered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Career and Technical Education Program. They receive instruction, complete research, design a project, and deliver a presentation as part of the course.
To learn more about Warren County High School’s Engineering and Construction Technology Academy and other career and technical education programs, visit the school’s academies website.