TownTalk: Seussical Jr. And Other Productions Coming To McGregor Hall

Got a budding actor living under your roof who may be looking to hone some skills this summer? McGregor Hall Executive Director Mark Hopper said this season’s Henderson Rec Players productions may be just the place to start.

Young people ages 8-16 are invited to a May 9 meeting, at 7 p.m., to learn more about Seussical, Jr., the culmination of a two-week-long children’s theater camp set for June 12-25.

This year marks the third year for the children’s camp, which Hopper said had been a long time coming. “That was a dream for a long time,” he said on Monday’s TownTalk.

Whether it’s acting, singing or helping behind the scenes, youngsters will get an immersive experience in what goes on to bring a production to the stage.

And the price – $50 for the two weeks – is right, Hopper said, to allow more children to come and take part.

Learn more about Seussical, Jr. and the other shows that the Rec Players will perform during the 51st season at www.mcgregorhall.org.

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Money to Do Good Works Comes from Selling Great Chicken!

Rebuilding Hope Ministries, located at 414 Raleigh Rd, is having it’s bi-annual BBQ CHICKEN PLATE fundraiser this FRIDAY, APRIL 28TH, 11:00AM – 7:00PM.

Half chicken, potatoes, string beans, bread, & dessert for $8.00.

Drive thru or Eat-In available, and orders for 5 or more plates may be delivered.

For more information or delivery requests call 252-438-5132 during regular hours.

Last years fall cooking was held as the remnants of hurricane Ian passed through. Rain is forecast for Friday, but this group of devoted volunteers will be there Friday to continue the work of this local ministry that has served our surrounding communities for over 17 years.

So please make your lunch or dinner plans for this Friday, the 28th, a famously delicious Rebuilding Hope chicken plate.

This text was submitted by Rebuilding Hope.

Rebuilding Hope Fall 2023 Chicken Plate (WIZS Photo)

City of Henderson Ward 3 Town Hall Meeting 4-27-23

A flier has been distributed for the 6 p.m. meeting April 27 at Shiloh Baptist Church.

Council Member Garry Daeke told WIZS News on April 20 that the Henderson City Council is looking to do a town hall meeting in each ward.  He said it’s so “people will come out and just bring, you know, things forward that maybe they want us to know that they don’t always bring to the council, feel comfortable, you know, coming in front of the council.  We thought we’d go out to them.”

Daeke said there was a plan also to present some information about housing.  He said one of the urban redevelopment areas (URA) is in Flint Hill.  “Probably going to bring some design stuff for that, show them some ideas we have or at least where we are in the process,” he said.

Community development and code enforcement information may be presented as well because the City is looking at beefing up that department.  “We’re probably going to see more inspections of houses and stuff…,” he said.

The floor will be opened up for residents to talk about what’s important to them, according to Daeke.

The City of Henderson provided notice Monday that a possible quorum of the Henderson City Council Members may be present the Ward 3 Town Hall Meeting Thursday.  The notice stated, “This is not a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council, no official business will be conducted, nor will any official action be taken and no meeting minutes will be produced for this notice.”

 

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen

McMillen Selected As New Butner Town Manager

-information courtesy of the Town of Butner

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen will become the next town manager of Butner.

The town of Butner issued a press statement Wednesday announcing the selection of McMillen, who was chosen from a pool of 30 applicants generated by a nationwide search.

Finalists were interviewed in early April, and a contract with McMillen was approved on Monday, April 17. He will begin his new job on June 12, 2023.

McMillen brings to his new role nearly 15 years of government experience. He has served as Vance County’s manager since August 2016, and was assistant manager from 2013-2016. Before that, he was director of planning and development from 2008 to 2013.

“I appreciate the Council’s thorough selection process and am thrilled to come on board in Butner.  I look forward to building relationships, working with staff and the Council, and ultimately continuing the great work of serving the citizens in Butner,” said McMillen. “The Town has a bright future, and I am drawn to its rural character and close-knit atmosphere, its outstanding access to the Triangle and growth potential, as well as its family-friendly feel and vision for the future.”

“We are delighted to have Mr. Jordan McMillen join us as the new Town Manager,” said Terry Turner, Mayor of Butner. “We are confident in his skills and abilities to move Butner forward. He will be a great asset to the people of Butner.”

He has a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments Outstanding County Manager of the Year in 2020 and the Egan Award for Application of Information Technology in 2008.

Jerry L. Ayscue, who has been serving as interim town manager since December 2022, will stay on until McMillen begins his duties in June.

Man Stabbed to Death at Little Hotel

HPD Press Release:

On Wednesday, April 19th, 2023, at approximately 12:17AM, members of the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the Little Hotel, 1010 S. Garnett Street in reference to a person being stabbed.

When officers arrived, they found Matthew Larmon (34), a resident of the Little Hotel, deceased from a single stab wound.

A suspect was developed quickly and was located a few hours later at 151 Burwell Ave, Henderson. The suspect, Sterling Davis, 48, was arrested and charged with the homicide.

The incident was said to have occurred after an argument between the victim and suspect occurred in a common area inside the Little Hotel.

Davis received no bond and was remanded to the Vance County Detention Facility.

Authority Chief Marcus W. Barrow

TownTalk: Clearview Church Plans BASS Legacy Night

An upcoming event at Clearview Church has some interesting similarities to some New Testament accounts of Jesus and his disciples being fishers of men. Or should that be fishermen?

Dr. Abidan Shah invites the community to come to Clearview on April 29 at 6 p.m. for BASS Legacy Night to hear a group of professional anglers talk about fishing, as well as offer testimonies.

Curtis Vick, a lay leader at Clearview, also is a co-angler, which is a step shy of being a professional. Vick said on TownTalk Thursday that he hopes others will find ways to strengthen – or establish – their faith as a result of the program.

It begins at 5:30 p.m. with a meal, and the discussion with eight or so other big names in Major League Fishing circles is from 6 p.m. to about 8 p.m.

“We’re using fishing as a platform for the Gospel,” said Ryan Hill, another Clearview member.

In addition to a free meal, participants will have the chance to win prizes throughout the evening. Contact info@clearviewbc.org to learn more.

Registration is appreciated, but not required.

Organizers hope to see 250 people or more attend.

Vick, who was born and raised in Henderson, said he began attending Clearview a few years ago and learned that men should be the spiritual leaders of the household. Since then, he’s taken on that leadership role – with his family and his co-workers.

“I try to lead by example,” he said, admitting that he falls short from time to time, as we all do.

He lives in Boydton, VA, but works in Henderson now, adding that he tries to be a role model for the young people who work with him.

Planning for this event has pushed him outside his comfort zone, but he is reassured by the support he’s gotten from the church staff, its congregation and from the fishing community.

Shah said he is excited about the upcoming event. “It’s going to be phenomenal,” he said. “It’s going back to the roots of the gospel – this is how it all began,” he said.

“We are catching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

 

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MPH Dietary Duo Create Award-Winning Chili

Information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health Market Coordinator, Communications and Marketing

Maria Parham Health Executive Chef Tammy Rochester and Dietary Director Keith Weiss brought home top honors at the recent Goat Fest 2023, a BBQ contest and chili contest held in Nashville, NC.

With a recipe for Bourbon & Bacon Chili, it sounds less like beginner’s luck and more like tasty winning ingredients for the duo, who competed under the name “Cranky Chef.”

“We are honored to have been recognized for our passion and dedication to culinary excellence,” Weiss stated. “We are proud to have participated in such a fantastic event and look forward to continuing to support this important cause in the future.”

The recipe calls for the chili to be topped with a roasted Mexican street corn crema, crumbled crispy fried pork belly and fresh chives, according to Donna Young, MPH Market Coordinator of  Communications and Marketing Communication Coordinator. It was a crowd favorite and was served homemade bread bowl, which Rochester crafted from scratch. Six judges unanimously chose Cranky Chef’s chili as the best in competition.

The team’s Polynesian-style Pork Butt was equally impressive. The dish, infused with soy and ginger flavors, was served in a bamboo boat with grilled pineapple wedges and a pickle brine tempura fried pickle chip.

Goat Fest 2023 raised more than $5,000 to support cancer patients. Attendees enjoyed music, food, and fun, with proceeds going to Nashville-area cancer patients with grocery gift cards through the Kitchen Goat Feeds Corporation. This money will help ensure that families dealing with cancer will never have to choose between groceries and much-needed cancer treatment again.

All dishes had to be prepared on-site with no pre-cooking or pre-marinating allowed, which added to the challenge of the competition. Food was served to attendees at the event, and to a panel of judges which included television personality, restaurant reviewer, speaker, pitmaster and BBQ connoisseur Bob Garner.

 

Springtime Vaccines Protect Equines From Deadly Diseases

-information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Agriculture

If you’re a horse owner, listen up: It’s time to protect your equines against a couple of serious ailments.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus, two diseases with high mortality rates. Both, however, are preventable with a simple vaccination.

“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent.”

Last year, there were no recorded cases of EEE and one case of WNV. In 2021, there were three recorded cases of EEE and two cases of WNV.

State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.

Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it could take between 3 and 10 days for symptoms to appear.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.

People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying these diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

Equine care also includes keeping up-to-date on equine infectious anemia (EIA) testing, commonly referred to as the Coggins test. “Since January there have been 20 cases of EIA in North Carolina. There is no vaccine and no cure for this disease so testing annually is important,” Troxler added.

“It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In 2022, seven cases of livestock infected with rabies were reported to our Veterinary Division. Since January, we have had two positive cases in livestock. Historically, most of the cases have been in cows but all livestock are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”