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VGCC, Granville Economic Devt. Partnering To Host Aug. 24 Business Loan Readiness Workshop

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Granville County Economic Development and Vance-Granville Community College have partnered to offer a Business Loan Readiness Workshop. Attendees will learn what lenders look for and how to prepare for the loan application process.

The workshop will take place on Monday, Aug. 24 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Entrepreneurship Center, 1547 S. Campus Dr., Creedmoor.

Clem Seifert, Eastern North Carolina Business Lender with Partner Community Capital, will share practical information on preparing for a business loan, what lenders consider when reviewing applications, and ways to improve your loan readiness. The information is helpful whether you’re applying through Partner Community Capital or another lender.

The workshop will also feature a brief overview from Carolyn Perry, Director of the VGCC Small Business Center, about the free business counseling, training and resources available to help entrepreneurs, followed by a Q&A session.

Register for the class at this link: https://45810536.hs-sites.com/registration-page 

For assistance, contact Economic Development Program Manager Stephanie Velazquez at stephanie.velazquez@granvillecounty.org or 919.693.5911.

ACTS Shelves Need Restocking – Please Help By Donating!

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Consider purchasing an item or two for ACTS the next time you’re at the grocery store – their inventory is low, but the need remains high!

Any non-perishable food would be appreciated, but here are some items they would especially like to have:

 

  • peanut butter
  • jelly
  • spaghetti noodles
  • spaghetti sauce
  • tomato sauce
  • Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • pasta noodles
  • instant potatoes
  • saltine crackers
  • Ritz crackers
  • cereal
  • mixed veggies
  • beef soup
  • vegetable soup
  • tomato soup
  • rice
  • canned pears
  • beans, including:

pinto beans, vegnavy beans, Great Northern beans, blackeye peas, field peas, pork and beans, red beans, chili beans, cannellini beans, red and white kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, baked beans, chili w/ beans, chili w/o beans

  • canned vegetables, including:

carrots, yams, lima beans, okra, cabbage, squash, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, mixed greens, creamed corn, diced tomatoes, green peas

  • canned chicken, beef, pork, ham, luncheon meat

 

ACTS is located at 201 S. William St. Call 252.492.8231 to learn more.

TownTalk: 20 Years of Rebuilding Hope

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It was 20 years ago when Randolph Wilson was struggling to understand just where he was being led.

“God had been dealing with me for a while,” Wilson recalled Thursday. He felt called to do something, but he didn’t have a clear picture of what that “something” was.

That’s when a friend casually mentioned whether he’d ever considered a local ministry. That was the light bulb moment – he knew immediately what the “something” was.

Rebuilding Hope is celebrating 20 years of providing help to people in need, right here in the Henderson area.

Tom Wille joined Wilson on TownTalk Thursday. The two men are co-directors of the non-profit organization that replaces roofs in disrepair and builds ramps for people to safely enter and exit their homes.

In the beginning, Wilson said, the young organization set up shop in a building that once had been used to construct trusses for homes.

The Pernells, of Pernell Steel on Raleigh Road, gave Rebuilding Hope the building for 10 years, which was a blessing in itself, Wilson said.

They started out giving away household furniture, too, but decided they’d prefer to focus on construction instead. That way, volunteers could visit with people at their homes to see what their needs were.

“We were excited about how God was leading us,” he said. “It was just amazing to watch Him work in those first few years.”

But the time came when they knew they’d need to find a permanent location, so they started looking at warehouses and other potential sites that they could afford.

When they got a lead that the former Coca-Cola Bottling Co. may be available, Wilson and Willard Jackson went to meet Hager Rand, who owned the Henderson property.

Long story short, Rebuilding Hope raised $234,000 – $200,000 for the building and the rest for renovations.

“He was very generous in his price on the building,” Wilson recalled of Rand’s asking price. That generosity continued over the ensuing months, too. Rand gave them multiple extensions so they could come up with the money.

“We’re so thankful for him and his generosity,” Wilson said.

Since then, the former bottling facility has been transformed to accommodate tools, construction material and more that keeps Rebuilding Home humming along.

Wille joined the operation in about 2007, and he said that while the tangible results are ramps and roofs, the intangibles are just as important.

Whether stopping by the office at 414 Raleigh Rd. to complete an application or welcoming a construction crew to a job site, individuals see, hear and feel the love of Christ, Wille said.

By the time someone needs a ramp to get in or out of their home, they’ve already been through health issues they must overcome, he observed.

“Health issues lead to money issues,” Wille said. “By doing what we do, in that one little thing,” volunteers put their faith into action.

And then it’s no longer about the ramp – “it’s about loving on people in our community.”

Last year, Rebuilding Hope built 152 ramps in 10 counties including Vance. That’s an average of three ramps a week. The volunteer crews do every bit of the work, at no cost to the homeowner.

The summer Servants on Site program sent more than 100 young people out into the community to complete nine roofing projects.

Those young people, Wilson said, give him faith in the next generation, by their commitment and willingness to help others.

“It changes people’s lives,” he said. And it’s not just the people who end up with new ramps and roofs.

The youth grow in Christ and create friendships and bonds with other young people that will last a lifetime. Former SOS participants have returned – as adults – to help, which Wille called awe-inspiring.

The Kids’ Construction Camp helps younger children learn how to use tools like hammers, tape measures, angles and squares. This year’s campers – about 30 of them – had a lot of fun creating a bird house with their new skills.

And when they’re old enough to take part in SOS, they’ll be ready.

There were stations where the kids learned a little bit about roofing, electricity and plumbing, but Wilson said the most important station was the one where they learned about the Bible.

Volunteers are the heart of the ministry, but having community partners is critical, too.

And then there are the folks who make financial contributions.

It takes upwards of $1,000 in lumber to construct a ramp. A recent truckload of lumber cost $15,000.

“This is a community-wide thing,” Wilson said. The commercial institutions and businesses that provide support of one type or another are feeding back into the community, rebuilding hope for everybody that brings “a little bit of light shining into a huge pot of darkness.”

Find the monthly newsletter, donation links and more at www.rebuildinghope.com.

 

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First Methodist Church

The Local Skinny! Special Tag Sale for August at FUMC Henderson

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The United Women in Faith’s tag sale for missions is underway now, with additional discounts on furniture and home décor through the month of August.

The showroom floor is open for customers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 114 Church St.

Enjoy an additional 25 percent discount this month on everything from dining and kitchen tables to bedroom suites, as well as upholstered sofas and chairs – and that’s just for starters.

Customers can shop on the fifth Saturday of the month, as well – that’s Aug. 29 – from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Proceeds support a wide variety of missions, including Hand In Hand, the soup kitche, Pinkston St. Elementary weekend packs, ACTS, Boys & Girls Club, Lifeline, Community Partners of Hope, Good Neighbors Fund, YMCA Children’s program, conference missions, the Methodist Home for Children and United Methodist Church on Relief.

Enter through the church office entrance when you come to shop.

Call 252.438.8791 to learn more.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: SFI New Series Promos

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We take a break from our new series called the Theory of 7’s and we talk about the Supporting Father Involvement Initiatives and Events that you should keep on your calendar in the future.

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: Judge Arrowood Ready for Re-Election Campaign

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N.C. Court of Appeals Judge John S. Arrowood is seeking to retain his Seat 1 spot on the 15-judge court. Arrowood, a Yancey County native, has been appointed twice to the court, once in 2007 by then-Gov. Mike Easley and again in 2017 by former Gov. Roy Cooper. He ran for the seat in 2018 and is seeking re-election in the November contest and faces Republican challenger Michael Byrne.

The Court of Appeals consists of 15 judges who sit in panels of three, Arrowood explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk. These panels dispose of between 1,200 and 1,500 cases each year and hear cases two weeks out of each month. The court hears all criminal cases – except death penalty cases – and all civil cases except those that come from business court, Arrowood said. They also hear many administrative law cases.

Until 2023, any split votes from the N.C. Court of Appeals could automatically be appealed to the N.C. Supreme Court, but the Legislature changed that so now the state Supreme Court must vote to hear the case. By comparison, the state Supreme Court hears somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 cases a year.

That’s just one reason the Appeals Court is considered the court of last resort, he said. The cases split generally fifty-fifty in criminal versus civil cases.

During COVID, cases dropped considerably, but they’re working their way back up, Arrowood noted.

He’s served on the Court of Appeals for a little over 10 years, and of the 15 seated judges, he’s the fifth-most senior judge.

“There’s been a lot of change in the court,” he said, referring to the turnover. “As there’s been change, things have slowed down,” referring to the pace at which the court renders its decisions.

Arrowood is one of three Democrats on the 15-judge court, but he said in the majority of cases he hears, the decision is unanimous. And when they’re not, it’s not divided by party affiliation. “Politics shouldn’t factor in at all to what you do in the job,” he said. “My whole philosophy is that we are there to protect the rule of law, to provide equal justice, to provide our citizens and to protect their constitutional rights, both under the state and federal constitution, and that we are there as a check and balance.”

With more than 25 years as a civil litigator with a Charlotte law firm as well as being a staff member on the Court of Appeals prior to joining private practice, Arrowood said he has the background for understanding how the court system works – and how it should work.

“We have an obligation as judges to do our work timely, to move things along,” he said. New, less-experienced judges can adversely affect the court’s timeline.

“If they’ve got a case at the court, obviously they want to win, but they also want to know if they’re not going to win” so they can make plans about their futures or their businesses.

It’s important not only to do the work correctly, but timely as well.

He credits his late father for instilling in him and his older brother the idea of being active and giving back.

Arrowood recalls the story his dad proudly told about how he had worked to sell road bonds back in the late 1940’s to get one of the first roads paved where he lived.

“He was pretty politically active and pretty civic-minded,” Arrowood said of his father. “He wanted his sons to, as he would say, give back to the community they lived in.”

The Arrowood brothers lost both parents – their mother to cancer and their father to a stroke – when the younger Arrowood was just 15, and so he went to live with his brother – older by 12 and a half years and already a Highway Patrolman.

He graduated magna cum laude from Catawba College, then law school at UNC-CH. His father had impressed on him the importance of getting a good education, so he could have a better life than what had been available to him, Arrowood said.

“I had great teachers who pushed me hard to be the absolute maximum I could be,” Arrowood recalled. And more than one suggested that he may be interested in becoming a lawyer.

Find out more at www.keepjudgearrowood.com

(This is not a paid ad. WIZS offers equal time to candidates.)

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TownTalk: The Countdown Is On For Vance County Friday Night Football

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The 2026 season marks the fifth year for Vance County Vipers Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott. Local sports analyst Doc Ayscue joined WIZS’s Scout Hughes on TownTalk Tuesday to talk X’s and O’s for the Vipers, beginning Year 2 in the newly formed Northern Six 6A/7A athletic conference.

Noting Elliott’s 28-16 overall record as Vipers head coach, Ayscue said having a good coach who is consistent year to year has a stabilizing effect on players and coaching staff. “From year to year, kids know what to expect,” he said. “I’m glad he’s chosen to hang around here.”

Professor Campbell returns to the Vipers sidelines as defensive coordinator and Lloyd Watkins is an assistant coach and also is serving as interim AD.

Watkins, a Vance County native, played at Norfolk State and has worked in local law enforcement for years. “He’s done a tremendous job,” Hughes said

The Vipers head to Raleigh on Friday for a scrimmage with Sanderson High School before the season cranks up in earnest.

Elliott and his staff are working with nine seniors on this season’s roster as opposed to almost twice that many on last year’s team, which recorded a 2-9 season and lost in the first round of post-season play.

A definite bright spot on this year’s team is Harry Cheek, who earned praise from Elliott for a solid performance last Friday during the annual Jamboree event.

Ayscue recalled that Cheek had been a “tremendous defensive player” last year, and proved to be a force to be reckoned with when the coaches tried him as part of the Vipers’ rushing game.

This year’s quarterback slot is being filled by junior Ayden Trowbridge.

He saw some action at the varsity level last year, which Ayscue said was a confidence builder for this season.

“He seemed to be very in control, confident” in last week’s pre-season matchup, “where he was going when he was throwing the ball – very accurate.”

Trowbridge has multiple wideouts to catch those passes, including Jerimi Strong, Jahmir Johnson and Talik Perry.

Ayscue said the offensive line did “a great job protecting Trowbridge whenever it was a pass situation” in last week’s Jamboree performance. “He didn’t ever seem real hurried, too pressured,” Ayscue said. He had several deep throws that he had time to do,” he added.

On the defensive side of the ball, four-year starter Montrell Ragland returns, as does Jalen Maze, who was sidelined for a good part of the season with an injury.

“He’s back, he’s healthy,” Hughes said, noting that Mayes, despite his limited play because of that collarbone injury, managed a whopping 37 tackles.

Ayscue said he expects the defense to clear up some confusion about assignments and should be good to go once that happens.

Here’s a brief look at the Vipers’ opponents, beginning with the County Line Clash on Aug. 28:

  • Aug. 21: At Warren County

The Eagles shut out the Vipers two years ago 18-0, but the Vipers struck last year, narrowly defeating the Eagles with a 13-12 final score. Expect a tough environment as the Vipers head to Warren County for the County Line Clash.

  • Aug. 28: South Granville

The Vikings from Creedmoor come to Vance County on Military/First Responders Night and the team may be in a little bit of an adjustment period with new Coach Sterling Johnson on the sidelines. The Vipers lost last year’s game 33-6.

  • Sept. 3 (Thursday): At Jordan, Durham

The game will be played a day early leading up to the long Labor Day holiday weekend. Jordan had a great team last year, but lost a bunch of seniors. Vance County has an overall 15-9-1 record against the Eagles, and hopefully this game will be more competitive than last year’s.

  • Sept. 11: At Rocky Mount

The Vipers visit Rocky Mount to try to avenge a 42-14 loss to the Griffons, who went 9-4 for the season, but lost a couple of dozen seniors from last year’s squad. Vance County eked out a one-point victory two years ago, and they’re looking for another victory against Rocky Mount.

  • Sept. 18: Northeastern

This year, it’s Northeastern making the long road trip from Elizabeth City to play the Vipers in a nonconference game that is part of the Communities in Schools program. The Vipers got beat 40-8 last year and will need to step up the defense to try to contain QB Zak Ishman, who threw his way into the record books with 3,233 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.

  • Sept. 25: BYE week
  • Oct. 2: Wake Forest

The Cougars come to Vance County on Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Then-junior rushing standout Micah Olu proved to be too much for the Vipers last year, so the defense will have to look for a way to shut him down to avoid another lopsided outcome.

  • Oct. 9: Knightdale

The Knights come to town for Homecoming, and the Vipers are looking for a more evenly matched contest this year. The Knights went 3-7 last year, but 14 seniors aren’t returning from last year’s team. The Vipers couldn’t really get good stops in last year’s game – they held their own during the first half, but the second half got away from them, Ayscue said.

  • Oct. 16: At Heritage

The Vipers head to Wake Forest to face Heritage High School. Last year’s matchup was a coming-out party for Harry Cheek, Hughes said. The Vipers came close to a win last year, and they’ll be looking for an opportunity to build on that in this year’s game.

  • Oct. 23: East Wake

It’s Senior Night and the Vipers will have a chance to show their appreciation for the team’s nine seniors as they try to beat East Wake for the second year in a row.

  • Oct. 30: At Franklinton

The final game of the regular season has the Vipers at conference rival Franklinton High School. The Red Rams went 8-4 last season, losing in the second round of the playoffs. They have 18 seniors on this year’s team, so there’s likely to be a lot of experience on the field.

“This is going to be a really tough game every single year,” Ayscue said. “In order to beat these guys, we’re going to have to be on top of the game.”

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Veteran School Leaders Appointed To New Roles At August Board of Education Meeting

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– Information from Vance County Schools Chief Officer of Accountability, Research & Communication Aarika Sandlin

The Vance County Board of Education has appointed Rey Horner as assistant superintendent of Auxiliary and Student Services and Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor-Crosson as chief officer of Academics and Federal Programs.

Horner and Batchelor-Crosson will begin their new roles immediately, according to information from VCS Chief Officer of Accountability, Research & Communication Aarika Sandlin.

A native of Henderson and Vance Sr. High School graudate, Horner earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from N.C. A &T State University and a Master’s degree in School Administration from Western Carolina University.

Horner’s career with Vance County Schools began in 1997 as a high school science teacher at Southern Vance High School. Throughout his career, he has served the district in a variety of leadership roles, including testing coordinator, assistant principal, Interim Director of AVID, principal of STEM Early High School, Southern Vance High School, and Vance County High School and most recently served as chief officer of Student Services.

As Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary and Student Services, Horner will provide leadership and oversight in areas that support the district’s schools, students and overall operations including maintenance and transportation. His extensive experience in instruction, school administration, student support and district leadership will position him to advance the district’s commitment to providing students and staff with the resources and services they need to succeed.

With nearly three decades of experience in education and a deep connection to Vance County Schools, Horner brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience to his new role. The district is confident that his expertise and commitment to students will be valuable assets as he leads the Auxiliary and Student Services teams. Horner shared, “I  am honored to serve Vance County Schools in this new capacity. Having spent my career in this district, I look forward to supporting our students, staff, and schools, building on the great work already underway.”

In her new role as chief officer of Academics & Federal Programs, Batchelor-Crosson will provide leadership and strategic direction for instructional initiatives and federal programs across the district. In this role, she will use her experience in teaching, school administration, instructional leadership and federal programs to support student achievement and help strengthen schools.

With an undergraduate degree from Fayetteville State University and both a Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Phoenix, Batchelor-Crosson also holds certifications in Elementary Education K-6 and School Administration.

Beginning her career in education in 2002 as a teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary, Since beginning her career in 2002 as a teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary, Batchelor-Crosson went on to lead the school’s 21st Century Community Learning Center. She later served as an assistant principal in Vance County Schools before returning to Pinkston Street Elementary as principal. She was named Vance County Schools Principal of the Year in 2022 and then served as the director of Elementary Education and Federal Programs, where she provided leadership in the oversight of federally funded programs designed to support student success, as well as support to the district’s elementary schools.

With a career spanning more than two decades and a commitment to instructional excellence, school leadership, and equitable opportunities for students, Batchelor-Crosson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing the district’s instructional priorities, strengthening federal program initiatives, and ensuring schools have the resources and support needed to help every student thrive. She shared, “I am honored to serve Vance County Schools in this new capacity. I look forward to working alongside our schools and staff to strengthen instruction, support student success, and ensure our federal programs continue to provide meaningful opportunities for every student.”

The superintendent welcomed Horner and Batchelor-Crosson into their new leadership roles. “Both bring a deep understanding of Vance County Schools, a strong commitment to our students and staff, and years of proven leadership experience. Their knowledge of our schools and communities, combined with their dedication to student success, will be invaluable as we continue to move our district forward. I am confident that their leadership will strengthen our work in instruction, federal programs, operations, and student services, and I look forward to the positive impact they will have across our school system,” she said.

As part of these leadership changes, Batchelor-Crosson and Mr. Horner will assume expanded responsibilities while building upon their existing leadership roles. Batchelor-Crosson will add oversight of Instruction to her existing leadership of Federal Programs, responsibilities previously held by Ross-Putney. Horner will expand his current district leadership responsibilities to include Auxiliary and Student Services following the recent retirement of the chief of Operations.