TownTalk: ‘An Evening Beneath the Stars’ Sept. 11

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“An Evening Beneath the Stars,” the upcoming outdoor celebration in downtown Henderson, started out as an event to mark the nation’s 250th birthday and it’s truly living up to its theme: “Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Build the future.”

The event includes dinner, patriotic music played by DJ Jay Rogers and a special video presentation that will incorporate the nation’s history along with a tribute to veterans and first responders, said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson.

Tickets for the Sept. 11 event are $100 each and are on sale now, but don’t delay – the deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, Sept. 1. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to purchase tickets or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org.

A joint collaboration of the local Chamber of Commerce, Vance County Tourism, Vance County Economic Development Commission and the City of Henderson Downtown Development Commission, “An Evening Beneath the Stars” is being planned for the Breckenridge Street area between McGregor Hall and the Henderson Police Department.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the American Legion Post 60 mission to further enhance the newly installed veterans’ memorial located in the traffic circle just outside the police department entrance.

In information from the Chamber publicizing the event, organizers described it as “a breathtaking evening of patriotism, remembrance, and community as we celebrate 250 years of the American spirit. We will gather to honor our nation’s history, reflect on its resilience, and invest in its future. This unforgettable evening will feature live entertainment, inspiring tributes, fine dining, and moments of remembrance that unite us all.”

Wilkerson and Vance County Tourism’s Pam Hester were guests on Monday’s TownTalk to discuss how the event took shape and the plan for making it an annual event.

Collaboration is a key ingredient for the success of any event, Hester said. It’s important to show the community that different agencies and groups are working together for a common goal.

“The only way to make things successful is to come together as a group,” Hester said. “Everybody does a part. Some people like to be up front and some people like to be in the back. I’m one of those “in the back” people,” she said. “I like to be behind the scenes.”

For Wilkerson, it was a no-brainer to seek partnerships with the city and county agencies.

When the four groups came together to start the planning, the Sept. 11 date bubbled up. And that’s when they realized that this year marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The veterans’ memorial, newly installed on Breckenridge Street, became the perfect backdrop for the dinner, she added.

“It’s going to be a very memorable event,” Wilkerson said.

The goal is to make this an annual event that folks want to come back for.

And that’s where the third prong of the theme comes in: Build the Future.

Hester said she expects the monument to draw visitors – veterans and others – to the area. It’s another attraction for downtown Henderson, which gives folks another chance to experience how caring the people are and how wonderful the city is.

“We all have to have that that positive outlook and go from there,” Hester said.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Lawns & Shade

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Shade hinders good turf grass development. Opening shady areas will help turf grasses thrive.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: KTCOG Summit Coming October 8

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Early-bird registration continues through Aug. 31 for the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments annual economic summit that will be held in Vance County on Thursday, Oct. 8.

KTCOG’s Desiree Brooks is among the planners for this event, which will take place at McGregor Hall – and outside on Breckenridge Street – from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The conference will be held indoors, and a vendor market will pop up for the community to enjoy from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Brooks said on Thursday’s segment of TownTalk.

This year’s theme, “Rooted: Grounded Locally, Growing Regionally,” reflects how tourism – and especially agri-tourism – is attracting visitors to the five-county area and affecting farmers’ bottom lines.

This is the 6th annual summit, which rotates among the Kerr-Tar region that includes Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person, Brooks explained.

It’s a way for the counties, with their unique qualities, can work together to promote the entire region, she said.

The planning committee is still working on details, but Dr. Mary Hemphill will kick off the morning session, and N.C. State University’s Dr. Carla Barbieri will speak in the afternoon about sustainable tourism. Farmers from each county will participate in a panel discussion to share their insights and ideas about how agritourism is working for them.

Participants will have the chance to visit with numerous farmers and other vendors at the conclusion of the official part of the summit. They’ll be set up outside McGregor Hall on Breckenridge Street for a pop-up market of sorts, complete with live music from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Brooks said.

It’s a way to celebrate and promote agritourism in the area, as well as inviting the community to learn more about what’s available right in their own backyard.

“Everybody has their own niche,” Brooks said, from the Warren County vineyard to the to the buffalo farm/wedding venue in Person County, farmers are learning how to innovate and create destinations that attract visitors from near and far.

Brooks said North Carolina values our farmers and agritourism is a way to highlight the region.

Register for the summit at

https://www.kerrtarcog.org/event/2026-rooted-summit-grounded-locally-growing-regionally

 

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TownTalk: Commissioners Consider Creating VAD Program For Owners Of Farmland

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Vance is one of only seven counties in the state that doesn’t have a voluntary agricultural district, or VAD, a program that provides landowners a way to support rural communities and protect working farmland from nuisance complaints and encroaching development.

At their Aug. 17 work session, the Vance County Board of Commissioners heard from Evan Davis, division director of the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Division, who, along with county Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Conservation Manager Larry West and Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Wykia Macon, asked commissioners to consider creating a VAD for the county.

As the name implies, this designation is a voluntary program that landowners enroll in.

It’s something West and Macon have been investigating and working on for a year or more.

A VAD is a first step in farmland preservation, Davis said, who said North Carolina ranks as the second-most threatened state in the country in terms of farmland over the past 20 years and projected farmland loss over the next 20 years.

A VAD is “a very important tool in the toolbox to help mitigate farmland loss,” Davis said.

Creating a VAD requires a county ordinance and the program is usually administered by the soil and water district or by the local cooperative extension. A citizen advisory board is the group responsible for approving or denying applications based on the criteria for enrollment.

If Vance County proceeds with creating a VAD, enrolled farms would be included on county GIS maps so buyers of neighboring properties would know that a working farm is nearby and they can expect the “sights, sounds and smells” that go along with farming and agriculture.

A landowner may withdraw from the VAD without penalty or fees by making the request in writing. It usually becomes effective in 30 days.

About one-third of counties have what is known as an enhanced VAD, which does have a 10-year irrevocable agreement, Davis said.

To learn more, visit

https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/farmland-preservation/vad/county-info

 

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Hargrove Chapel UMC In Townsville Hosts ‘Backpack Blessings’ Aug. 22

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Hargrove Chapel United Methodist Church in Townsville is having a Vocational Bible School Backpack Blessings event this Saturday, Aug. 22.

Come to the church, located at 90 Twisdale Rd., between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. There will be a backpack giveaway, as well as light refreshments, games and activities for the youngsters.

Since its formation in 1885, Hargrove Chapel has a rich heritage of faith, worship and service.

Through the generations, the church and its members have been committed to spreading the love of Christ and building a stronger community through the Word of God.

Come for the blessings and stay for the fun!

If you’d like to learn more or make a donation, contact Angela Jefferson at 252.213.4174.

Henderson Family YMCA Sponsors Blood Drive Wednesday, Sept. 9

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The Henderson Family YMCA is sponsoring a blood drive on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Henderson Y is located at 380 Ruin Creek Rd., Henderson.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood crisis and demand for blood from hospitals is outpacing donations.

One donation can help as many as three people in need, so whether you’re a first-time donor or a regular, you have the opportunity to really make a difference.

All blood types are welcome, but there is a special need for O- and O+ blood types. Power Red donors for O, A- and B- are also needed.

Healthy snacks will be provided after donation.Use Sponsor Code HendersonYMCA when scheduling your appointment to ensure your donation is credited to the YMCA drive.

To schedule your life saving appointment please visit:
1-800-RED CROSS | 1-800-733-2767 | redcrossblood.org

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TownTalk: Vance County Commissioners Discuss Ways To Recover $1.4M In Delinquent Property Tax

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Vance County Tax Administrator Jennifer Williams recommended to county commissioners the use of what is known as “sheriff’s execution” as a last-resort option to collect more than $1.4 million in delinquent personal property taxes.

There are a total of 1,481 delinquent accounts, Williams told commissioners during an Aug. 17 work session, although there probably are more now since that number is a few months old now, she added.

The sheriff’s execution is allowed by state law and works much the same way as a civil or criminal summons in that it requires a sheriff’s deputy to serve paperwork to the person in question.

Williams reiterated to commissioners throughout her presentation that a sheriff’s execution would be the method of last resort, after the numerous other methods of collection of delinquent taxes have been exhausted.

There was consensus among commissioners present to proceed with developing a formal policy that the board would consider at a future meeting; no action or vote may be taken at a work session.

County Manager Renee Perry said she had spoken with Sheriff Curtis Brame, and she told commissioners that if this was the route commissioners wanted to take, he would support it and “make it happen.”

WIZS News spoke with Brame Tuesday morning and he clarified that he supports doing his job.

“My job is to execute the paperwork,” Brame said. “I hate it’s coming down to this, but people know that the sheriff’ and local law enforcement are burdened with certain tasks that they may not want to do or not in favor to do, but according to law, if the paperwork comes across our desk, we have to enforce it.”

Having the additional job of serving sheriff’s executions could place additional burdens on the sheriff’s office, which is dealing with chronic staffing shortages.

Brame said his deputies are responsible for carrying out their duties, which includes serving all the legal documentations – civil and criminal – that come across the sheriff’s desk. That documentation likely will include in the future sheriff’s executions.

In her presentation, Williams suggested looking at “the highest recovery potential accounts,” as well as business accounts.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt said he would like to see the process begin with the oldest accounts first. Some accounts are two years old; some are as many as five years old, Williams said. One individual could have multiple delinquent accounts.

Although the county uses several different methods to recover the money owed – including payment plans, garnishment of wages and bank attachments – it can be difficult to track down people or businesses if they’ve moved out of the county or if the county doesn’t have current information.

When a sheriff’s office serves a person the sheriff’s execution paperwork, the deputy also would identify eligible property that could be seized and sold to help recoup the delinquent taxes.

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