Search On For VCHS Athletic Director In Wake Of Noel’s Resignation

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Vance County High School Athletic Director Raymond Noel has resigned his post, and VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin has told WIZS News that the district is seeking a qualified applicant to fill the position.

“We are very appreciative of all that Mr. Noel did for VCHS,” Sandlin said in a statement to WIZS.

“Vance County Schools is committed to finding a strong leader to continue the work of the Viper Athletic program,” she said.

Candidates must hold a valid NC teacher certification and have at least five years’ experience as a PE teacher or coach; candidates should have at least a bachelor’s degree in physical education; a master’s degree in athletic administration or equivalent training and experience is preferred, according to the job description.

Find the complete job description at www.vcs.k12.nc.us. Click on Job Opportunities in the top right corner of the home page.

Interested applicants should apply on the VCS website www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

NC Cooperative Extensions Offer Pesticide Application Recertification Hours June 27

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Anyone who needs recertification hours to stay certified for pesticide application can register to attend a class offered June 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Participants can earn two recertification hours for categories A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T or X.

Class locations are listed below.  Registration is required. Sign up by calling the Person County Extension Center 336-.599.1195 or by visiting https://go.ncsu.edu/2023multicredit.

This will be an in-person class only.

Be sure you have all your credit hours to remain certified for applying the pesticides you need. If you have any questions regarding this information or about requirements needed for your current licensure, contact Mikayla Berryhill at 336.599.1195 or 919.603.1350 or by email mikayla_berryhill@ncsu.edu.

 

CLASS LOCATIONS:

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Granville County Center, 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Person County Center, 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Warren County Center, 158 Rafters Ln, Warrenton

The Local Skinny! Teacher Bags Being Prepared by Chamber

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce wants to help new teachers in the county feel welcomed as they begin – or continue  – their careers providing instruction to students in the area.

Now through July 11, the Chamber is collecting donations from area businesses for its annual New Teacher Bags program, and Chamber Events Coordinator Vanessa Jones said she’s already had a good response.

“There’s been a flood of emails from businesses that want to help us out,” Jones said.  “We’re excited for the opportunity…to make sure our teachers are having a good welcome” to the county and to their respective schools.

Donations in increments of 160 are what’s needed to fill up those bags, as that is the expected number of new educators across all schools – that includes Vance County Schools, Vance Charter School, Crossroads Christian, Kerr-Vance Academy and Henderson Collegiate.

The Chamber has set the mid-July deadline so all the bags can be ready for distribution for any new teacher orientations that may be held prior to the start of the teacher workdays at the beginning of the school year.

Items with business logos on them help identify local retailers and others that support the program – and the new teacher bags also are a great way for individuals new to the area to learn about where they can find certain goods and services.

Jones said any business or organization that cannot deliver the items to the Chamber office should contact her to arrange pickup. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 or email her at vanessa@hendersonvance.org.

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TownTalk: Berry Village Proposed For Dabney Rd.

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A mixed-used development project that exists now only on paper has taken a key step forward after getting the green light from the Vance County Planning Board with a special use permit.

As it appears in its conceptual form, Berry Village would ultimately have a mixture of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, as well as up to 250,000 square feet of commercial/retail development, according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon.

With approval from the planning board, the project proposal next heads to the City Council.

“As this project pertains to development and growth, it would be a boost to the city’s tax base,” Blackmon stated to WIZS News, “but more importantly it shows that Henderson is a viable destination for future housing and retail growth and we expect to see more developers choosing Henderson and Vance County for additional development opportunities.”

The 123 acres is located along Dabney Road, and at least two full access entrances would be along Dabney Road, where it meets Ruin Creek Road and then at Allen Road. A limited access point is planned for Dabney Road just across from Blessed Hope Baptist Church.

This is the general area where city leaders have proposed constructing a new fire department. The tract would have city services, including water and sewer.

The commercial and retail space, as well as the apartment units, will be located along Dabney Road, with townhomes in several different areas of the site map and the single-family homes will take up a total of just more than 31 acres.

In a posting on social media, City Council member Garry Daeke called Berry Village “a planned community development unlike any we have to date.”

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ICYMI: Vance County Fire Services

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In the ongoing conversations among county leaders about the future of the Vance County Fire Department, many things remain unresolved. But when county commissioners approved the 2023-24 budget on June 14, a couple of issues were addressed, including raising the hourly pay for part-time firefighter to $15 from $14 and agreeing to conduct a fire study.

Following the budget adoption meeting, Interim County Manager Scott Elliott told WIZS News, “At the July 10 meeting, staff will bring forth the proposed scope of the work to be conducted by the fire study and seek board approval and for execution of a contract.”

Dozens of citizens – many of them affiliated with one of the county’s fire departments – attended a meeting of the county’s Public Safety Committee on June 7. Over the last 45 days in particular, citizens and those in the fire service have continued to express their concerns about the proposal from the committee to restructure the Vance County Fire Department.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt, a member of the committee, maintained that the fire department will not be dismantled; rather, paid staff would be reduced by attrition and more volunteers would be added to that department’s roster. The ultimate goal is to provide 24/7 fire coverage across the county, Brummitt said, but it can’t all happen at once.

With the budget in place, a hiring freeze in place, and the study coming, the board, with a great deal of county staff help, has preserved its option to act on the study, including amending the budget.

After the June 14 meeting, Finance Director Katherine Bigelow said, “What is being approved is freezing the four vacant Vance County Fire Department positions and their capital expenses consisting of turnout gear and fire boots, for example,” as she went over some items with WIZS.

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Sheriff Brame: 18 Arrested In Recent Operation In, Around ABC-Permitted Establishments

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A total of 18 people face more than 30 charges related to a variety of alcohol and other criminal violations following a joint operation with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and state law enforcement officials.

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame said his officers, with assistance from agents with the N.C. Department of Public Safety and Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, conducted the operation in mid-May “in and around ABC-permitted establishments located in the county,” Brame stated in a press release issued Wednesday afternoon.

Altogether, 18 people face charges, including Chapter 90 drug offenses, one felony charge, eight charges stemming from outstanding warrants, three violations of the open-container law and one charge of an illegal outlet.

No other details were available from Brame at this time.

TownTalk: Former NC Governor McCrory Talks Division In Politics

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In 2012, Pat McCrory was elected as governor of North Carolina. He served one term, having attained statewide recognition as mayor of Charlotte from 1995-2009. He lost a bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022.

No longer seeking election himself, McCrory in the last month has accepted a role as national co-chair of an organization called No Labels.

It’s not a political party and it won’t be endorsing candidates, but it has the potential to affect upcoming national elections, he explained, by offering voters a choice other than what’s on the traditional Democrat or Republican tickets.

McCrory was a guest on Tuesday’s TownTalk to discuss his association with No Labels and what it is working on at a national level.

No Labels, established in 2009, is oiling its political machine in advance of the upcoming 2024 Presidential elections.

McCrory cited recent polls that show voters are dissatisfied with the current frontrunners for President. And if Super Tuesday – the day many states hold primaries – produces a Trump-Biden race, then No Labels could jump into the race with its own candidates.

“No Labels is talking about running a bipartisan third-party option,” McCrory said. “A Republican and Democrat on the ticket.”

The main push now, he said, is getting on states’ ballots now. They have been added in five or six states, but the goal is 20 by December and, ultimately, all 50 states. “We hope to be in North Carolina in a short period of time,” he noted.

The group is expected to release a more detailed agenda in July with additional information about a variety of topics it will get behind.

He said No Labels seeks to provide a common-sense approach to address challenges that the mainline parties find little on which to compromise.

“I’m a conservative who believes the more competition, the better.” Divisions and failure to find compromise among political parties only create chaos, he said.

“I’m in favor of more choice,” McCrory said. And if No Labels does come up with a President/Vice President team as an alternative for voters, dissatisfied with the options from traditional parties, make no mistake: “It’ll be to win, not to be a spoiler.”

Read more at https://www.nolabels.org/ and listen to the complete interview with McCrory just below.

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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Walk into Perry Memorial Library in the coming days and weeks and you just may find something more than reading material, thanks to a craft workshop that is taking place today afternoon.

Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters joined WIZS co-host Bill Harris on Tuesday segment of The Local Skinny! to let families know about some interesting upcoming programs at the library.

Kindness Rocks! Is a program that has just a few simple ingredients: Young people, paint and rocks, Peters said.

The young artists will paint a simple inspirational word or picture on the rock, then place it somewhere for it to be discovered by someone walking by.

The idea is “to leave messages around the community where you live,” she said. Participants will find spots inside and outside the library to place their “kindness rocks,” with the hope that it brightens the day for the person who finds it.

Next Tuesday, June 27, at 11 a.m., the Farm Bureau Room will become a concert venue as the band “Big Bang Boom!” takes the stage. The group plays kid-friendly music, Peters said, and invites all to come enjoy.

Later that day, beginning at 4:30 p.m., representatives from the local animal shelter are going to bring along some adoptable pets for children to interact with and maybe even read a story to, Peters said. Kids will get a chance to make toys for dogs out of old t-shirts.

And on Thursdays, don’t forget the Mother Goose story time and Lego Fun Club. The story time is at 11 a.m. and the Lego group kicks off at 4 p.m. Last week, there were 35 kids enjoying their time creating with the classic plastic bricks.

Visit  https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn more.

 

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