Cooperative Extension with Tasha Kearney: High School Shoutout

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Tasha Kearney, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We give a shoutout to students in Vance County taking culinary courses as part of the Go for Health Program.

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

Click Play!

RCAPS Blood Drive Oct. 24 At Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre

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The Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society is sponsoring a blood drive on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre.

Come out to donate blood between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. The drive-in is located at 3336 Raleigh Rd.

Donors will get a gift bag filled with goodies – the drive-in will add a $20 gift card to the bag for all those who schedule an appointment before Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Find the link to register at https://www.facebook.com/share/19zuB9aDZG/

Walk-ins are accepted, too.

The Blood Connection will be set up in front of the big outdoor screen, and folks can watch the new movie Clayface. Get your gift bag, popcorn/drink coupon and bonus gift card even if you can’t stay for the movie.

Trick-or-Treat Opportunities Abound In Henderson, Vance County Through Oct. 31

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STORY UPDATED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL EVENTS!

Area children who enjoy this time of year – you know, dressing up as their favorite Superhero or movie character or the old stand-by generic ghost or goblin and saying “trick or treat” – just may gather a bumper crop of candy and goodies if they visit all the upcoming opportunities in and around Henderson over the next couple of weeks.

Here’s a list of what’s coming up:

  • Autobrite Express is having its 4th annual Haunted Car Wash on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A minimum $15 donation per vehicle, with proceeds benefiting local charities. The car wash will be filled with creepy characters and spooky surprises to give you a car wash experience you’ll not soon forget! Autobrite Express is located at 211 N. Cooper Drive, Henderson.

  • Community Trunk or Treat Sunday, Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Plank Chapel United Methodist Church in Kittrell.

This is the third annual event held at the church, located at 3047 Bobbitt Rd., Kittrell. Youngsters are invited to walk the Trunk or Treat trail and collect candy along the way. They may wear their Halloween costumes when attending. There is no fee to participate in the event, which is presented by Journey, Plank Chapel’s youth outreach ministry. Novelty prizes will also be offered to participating youth. Free hot dogs will also be available for everyone in attendance, while supplies last.

Anyone wishing to participate on the Trunk of Treat trail with a vehicle may reserve a space by contacting Ron Gustafson at 203.641.2889. Vehicle participants must also provide candy to distribute.

The church will also have information available for children and youth interested in joining Journey. For more information visit plankchapel.org.

  • Maria Parham Health, Henderson, is hosting a Trick-or-Treat event on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hundreds of local children and families are expected to come out together for an evening of Halloween fun in a safe, family-friendly environment.

Maria Parham Health is seeking community partners to host treat stations during the event. Businesses, schools, civic organizations, first  responders, nonprofits, faith-based groups, clubs and other community organizations are encouraged to participate.

Participating organizations are asked to:

  • Decorate a treat station.
  • Dress in costume.
  • Hand out candy and other treats.
  • Showcase their organization while giving back to the community.

Organizations can go all out with elaborate decorations and costumes or keep things simple. Every participating group helps create a memorable experience for local children and families.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate Halloween while creating special memories for local children and families,” said Donna Young, public information officer for Maria Parham Health. “We are grateful to the businesses and organizations that help make this event possible each year.”

Organizations interested in participating should email donna.young@lpnt.net for more information or to reserve a treat station.

  • The Vance County Arts Council is hosting a downtown event on Friday, Oct. 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Garnett Street will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. to about 7 p.m., just to keep all those costumed kiddos and their chaperones safe.

Local businesses will be opening their doors and handing out treats. There’s still time to get involved – there’s no cost or signup, just be ready for hundreds of trick-or-treaters eager for candy and treats.

Businesses are responsible for providing their own treats. And if you’re a business owner or organization not located in the downtown area, no problem! Contact Alice Sallins at 252.767.4579 or Tracy Madigan at 252.425.0844 to find a spot.

Visit https://vanceartscouncil.com/event/trick-or-treat-2026-in-downtown-henderson-nc/

  • Traditional citywide trick-or-treating will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Residents wishing to participate are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and ensure that walkways and entrances are adequately illuminated and free of potential hazards.
With increased pedestrian activity anticipated throughout the community, the City of Henderson and Henderson Police Department emphasize the importance of safety, visibility, and responsible driving during both events.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure children wear brightly colored costumes or incorporate reflective materials to improve visibility, particularly during evening hours. Flashlights and glow sticks are also recommended. Children should remain under appropriate adult supervision, utilize sidewalks and designated crosswalks whenever possible, and avoid entering roadways between parked vehicles.
Motorists are reminded to exercise heightened awareness, reduce speeds in residential neighborhoods and downtown areas, eliminate distractions, and remain especially attentive to children who may unexpectedly enter the roadway. Drivers should anticipate increased pedestrian traffic during the designated trick-or-treating hours.
  • North Henderson Baptist Church will be having its annual Trunk or Treat and Coat Give away on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the church parking lot. Come and join us for the fun and to receive a free coat if you are in need of one. The church is located at 1211 N. Garnett St. Henderson.
  • Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church Youth Ministry is hosting Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    All youth are invited. Costumes are welcome, but not required.
  • The Ultimate Teen Halloween Bash – Nightmare on Carey Chapel Rd – will get underway on Saturday, Oct. 31, thanks to the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Dept. Get ready for a night of chills, thrills, and killer vibes at our spook-tacular teen Halloween party! We’re turning up the fright and the fun!! Middle schoolers – grades 6-8 will have from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then high schoolers – grades 9-12 will participate from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Registration is FREE and will close on Sunday, Oct. 25. Sign up in person or online at hvrpd.recdesk.com
  • Eastside Baptist Church is having a Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pastor Alex Murlis invites the community is invited to come and enjoy free food, games, a cake walk and a hay ride! The church is located at 1017 Eastern Blvd., Henderson.
  • The City of Oxford recommends trick-or-treating on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5:00–7:30 p.m. Drivers, please slow down and watch for pedestrians. Trick-or-treaters, use sidewalks, stay visible, and visit homes with porch lights on. Have a safe and spooktacular Halloween!

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Soil Testing

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Soil samples can easily be collected using a shovel or garden trowel.

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

Click Play!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office To Host Purple Lights Campaign Kickoff Oct. 24 At Courthouse

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The Vance County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to observe October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and come to a special ceremony on Oct. 24 beginning at 3 p.m. outside the Vance County Courthouse, 156 Church St. in Henderson.

According to VCSO Domestic Violence Educator Debbie Scott, it’s all part of the “Purple Lights Campaign,” which will take place Oct. 24-31. The program will include a prayer vigil and a reading of names of those in the community whose lives have been lost to domestic violence.

The sheriff’s office will distribute brochures and information on how individuals can protect themselves from domestic violence. Scott said education plays a critical role in reducing and preventing domestic violence.

By shining a purple light, residents, businesses and organizations can show their support for domestic violence survivors and to remember victims.

You can pick-up purple light bulbs at the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. (156 Church Street)

The Oct. 24 event will include musical performances and survivors sharing their personal accounts and testimonies, Scott said.

In Vance County, things are looking up, Scott said. The number of domestic violence incidents has dropped by more than 25 percent since the campaign began eight years ago in 2019.

Be creative with your purple light display – use a porch light, a light in a window of your home or business or decorate a tree with string lights – and show your support for this cause.

For more info contact Debbie K. Scott, VCSP domestic violence educator at 252.738.2235 or email dscott@vancecounty.org.

Traffic Flow Resumes Along Dabney Drive Following Early-Morning Crash At I-85 Overpass

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UPDATED 1 P.M., OCT. 16, 2026

All lanes of traffic that had been closed because of an early-morning traffic accident had been re-opened by shortly after 11 a.m.

 

— From Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

At approximately 4 a.m. this morning, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to a single-vehicle collision on Interstate 85 Northbound near Exit 213 (Dabney Drive).

Preliminary information indicates a tractor-trailer struck the support columns of the Dabney Drive overpass. The driver was alert and responsive at the scene but was transported to an area medical facility for further evaluation.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation was notified and is assessing the situation.

At this time, northbound traffic on I-85 is being diverted, and the Dabney Drive overpass has been closed to traffic. There is currently no estimated time frame for reopening either roadway.

Motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes, anticipate significant traffic delays and exercise caution when traveling in the area.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Henderson Police Department.

 

DHHS Letter To Sheriff Brame Cites Jail Closure As Option For Ongoing Deficiencies

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Citing “ongoing and serious compliance concerns,” the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services has put Sheriff Curtis Brame on notice that closing the jail is a possibility if the county doesn’t make good on addressing multiple safety, staffing and other deficiencies that have been identified.

A letter dated Oct. 2, 2026 and signed by DHHS Secretary Devdutta Sangvai stated that the county has 30 days to provide appropriate documentation to show that the jail is in compliance or risk closure.

Two correction actions had been issued in April 2025 directing Brame to address issues that included “inadequate staffing, failure to comply with depopulation requirements, continued physical plant and life-safety hazards and a lack of required documentation.”

Although the detention center has 91 beds available because of safety renovations, the current census was 136, as of Oct. 2.

With 24 vacant staff positions, the current staff “cannot adequately supervise the current census,” the letter stated.

The letter also included the incident in June when two detainees escaped and avoided capture for about a week. Another attempted escape occurred in June and resulted in a detainee being injured.

“In light of current circumstances and reported incidents at the Facility, DHSR remains concerned that the Vance County Sheriff and VCDC leadership are not acting with urgency to correct the ongoing, documented deficiencies,” the letter continued. DHSR is the Division of Health Service Regulation.

“The Sheriff and VCDC leadership have not made sufficient progress to remedy or address the most serious deficiencies identified by DHSR during its recent inspections and have not initiated or implemented necessary corrective actions.”

A meeting with DHHS staff was to be scheduled with Brame and other county leaders to take place during the month of in Octobert to spell out next steps and expectations.

The letter was addressed to Brame, who is responsible for the detention center, but the letter was cc’d to all county commissioners, Superior Court Judge John Dunlow, Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry, Assistant County Manager Jeremy Jones, County Attorney Jonathan Care, District Attorney Mike Waters, Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and numerous other state-level officials representing the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, N.C. Dept. of Adult Correction and staffers in the office of Gov. Josh Stein.

A copy of the letter can be found on the county website at https://www.vancecounty.org/vcdc/