Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Hope To Keep Winning Once They Return To The Field

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The life of football coach can be filled with great joy and equally great frustration. Vance County High School Head Football Coach Wilbur Pender has seen both in the last three weeks. After winning the opening game of the season against Warren County, the Vipers were shut out by Roanoke Rapids but rebounded last Friday night with a 47 – 36 victory over Durham Riverside in what turns out to be the team’s first win over a 4A school. With quarterback Nazir Garrett dialing up 5 Touchdown passes and the ground game chewing up 200 years, the Vipers were looking forward to Friday night’s game against Northern Durham. Did we mention frustration? Yes, and that frustration is, of course, due to Covid. A Covid exposure will push the Northern Durham game back to a bye week and the following week’s game against Jordan has been cancelled.

“We can only control things we can control,” said coach Pender on Thursday’s SportsTalk with Trey Snide. While the coach might not be able to tackle Covid, he can be pleased with his team’s performance this past Friday night and he feels the Roanoke Rapids loss is what paved the way for the win over Riverside. “That loss helped focus the team,” Pender said. After an excellent week of practice Pender said the team was confident and executed the prepared game plan paving the way for the victory.

“I’m never going to say I’m satisfied. I’m always looking for improvement,” Pender said of his team. He doesn’t feel the team has hit its stride yet, particularly on defense. His defensive team is young with quite a few freshmen and those players are making freshmen mistakes. Pender says they need to work on tackling and creating more turnovers so his offense has more opportunities.

With Covid in the picture Pender says his biggest worry is that the team will have a fall off once they return to the field. “It’s like building a plane as you are flying it,” Pender said of the challenges of his first year coaching the Vipers. Hopefully, the remainder of the season will see more of the joy and less of the frustration once the Vipers are back on the field.

 

The Local Skinny! Evictions May Be On The Rise With Moratorium Lifted

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The moratorium on evictions has been lifted, and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame has some advice for renters and property owners.

Although there may be some allowances for renters who live in properties that receive federal funding, ordinary renters and property owners should take note that in North Carolina, property owners who are not receiving rental income may now legally pursue eviction procedures for tenants who are in arrears.

John C. Rose talked about the moratorium on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! program on WIZS at 11:45 a.m. after speaking with Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

The moratorium was put in place in 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions created financial hardships because employees were out of work. That moratorium has been extended a few different times.

But Brame wants residents to be aware that the moratorium has been lifted, and he encourages renters who may be out of compliance to do their best to keep up with their rent payments and to communicate with property owners if there’s a problem.

Brame’s office has two officers – one sergeant and one deputy – who specialize in dealing with eviction notices.

Now that the moratorium has been lifted, Brame said property owners once again can begin the process of serving eviction notices for renters who are behind in payments.

Tenants should try to stay current with their rent payments and to take care of the property they are occupying, he said.

In North Carolina, it is the job of the sheriff’s office to serve eviction notices and without moratoriums in place, property owners are going to be playing catch-up from the last year. But nobody likes to be the one knocking on the door with an eviction notice in hand.

Once an eviction process has started, the tenant is really at the mercy of the property owner.

Now is the time to be in front of this and make sure everything is in place. It can take anywhere between 10 days and 90 days to complete the eviction process, and it is the sheriff’s office’s job to make sure people and belongings have been cleared out once the process is complete.

But, no doubt, there are going to be some of those knocks on doors delivering news that no tenant wants to hear.

Town Talk: Kerr-Tar Loan Programs Help Homeowners With Repairs

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Homeowners in the five-county area that the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments serves can apply for a couple of loan programs for repairs or improvements to their residences.

The deadline to submit applications is early November, and Kerr-Tar finance assistant Katie Connor said the loans are completely forgivable, provided the home remains the property of the homeowner for the life of the loan.

That’s free money, folks.

Kerr-Tar serves Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties and the Urgent Repair Loan Program that it is offering provides up to $10,000 over five years – $2,000 a year, Connor told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk. Applications are due in the Kerr-Tar office by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

As the name indicates, the repairs do need to be of an urgent nature – a leaky roof,  unsafe floors, ramp installation for the disabled, and HVAC repairs are just a few of the examples of acceptable repairs.

“There’s definitely some flexibility in the (type of) repair that can be done,” Connor said, “but they must be urgent.” The main goal of this loan program is to keep people in their homes, she added.

Visit kerrtarcog.org to see program criteria. There’s money for up to 20 houses in the five-county area, Connor said. This loan is considered an unsecured loan.

In general, homeowners need to be older than 62, and the home must be a stick-built structure – mobile homes and manufactured homes do not qualify. Veterans, disabled persons and families of five or more also would qualify, Connor said. Household income must be less than 50 percent of the median income in North Carolina, she added.

The other loan program is currently available for homeowners in Warren County. The Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation program offers $30,000 for repairs. This is a secured loan, Connor said, which means that qualified applicants would have a deed of trust placed on their property for the duration of the six-year loan. This also is a forgivable loan, which means that no money has to be repaid, provided the homeowner doesn’t sell the property during the life of the loan.

The criteria for both loan programs are very similar, but Connor said household income for ESFR program applicants must be 80 percent of the median income for the state.

Because of the larger amount of the loan, Connor said projects would have to be substantial enough to bring a home up to acceptable standards. “We can’t just do one thing for this house.” There is money for five houses, she said.

The deadline to submit applications for the ESFR program is Monday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. All applications should be submitted to the Kerr-Tar office, located at 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson.

The applications and related information are available at kerrtarcog.org. Connor said applications also can be mailed to interested applicants. Simply call 252.436.2040 ext. 6071 and leave your name and mailing address and Connor said she will put the paperwork in the mail. They also are available at area Senior Centers as well as county government offices.

As is often the case, demand usually exceeds the amount of money available, Connor said. And the Kerr-Tar COG must apply each year to receive the funds.

Click Play for complete details and audio.

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Uses Federal Dollars Earmarked To Pay Unpaid Student Bills

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Vance-Granville Community College cleared unpaid balances for 261 of its students who attended between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021, to the tune of $153,332.14.

VGCC, like other colleges across the state, applied money from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to provide financial relief to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is important for us to help our students remove barriers that keep them from getting the skills they need to better their work or life situations,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “Leveraging HEERF funds to help students affected by the pandemic to continue their education is just one of those ways. Our students and our communities matter to us!”

Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement & success, said the college’s business office and financial aid personnel were key players in making this debt forgiveness a reality. “This move speaks to the college’s true commitment to helping students succeed,” Brown said.  “We are glad that our students were able to directly benefit from the HEERF funds and are able to continue their educational and training journey.”

The VGCC admissions and advising teams will work directly with former students affected by this change to help them get re-enrolled at the college and continue pursuing their programs of study. For more information about enrolling or re-enrolling at Vance-Granville, visit www.vgcc.edu.

Tobacco Research Referendum Vote Set For Nov. 18

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Vance County tobacco growers can cast their vote at the local cooperative extension office on the Tobacco Research Referendum, which will be held on Nov. 18, 2021.

Paul McKenzie, agriculture extension agent for Vance and Warren counties, explained the referendum in a written statement to WIZS News.

McKenzie said the referendum is being held to let tobacco growers decide if they wish to continue a self-assessment program that funds tobacco research.  This program, in place since 1991, was established by state law and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

A two-thirds favorable vote will mean that growers will continue to assess themselves to support tobacco research and education.  The assessment is 10 cents per 100 pounds of tobacco produced in North Carolina. The funds, about $250,000 annually, are collected at buying stations by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and then allocated by the Tobacco Research Commission for research and extension projects for tobacco at NC State University.

To learn more, call the Vance County Extension office at 252.438.8188.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Suspects Arrested; Believed that 4,400 Dosage Units of Heroin Seized

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— Vance County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On the 2nd day of September 2021, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division arrested the following:

Amon Rashad Smith, age 24, of Henderson, NC, charged with Trafficking Heroin; Possess Stolen Firearm; Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana. Smith’s bond was set at $271,000 Secured.

Laquad Cornell Holden, age 22, of Henderson, NC, charged with Trafficking Heroin; Felony Possession of Cocaine; Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana; Felony Maintaining a Dwelling to Keep/Sell/Store Control Substance; Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Holden’s bond was set at $97,000 Secured.

A total of 88 Bricks, or 4,400 dosage units, of suspected Heroin were located and seized from the two individuals.

Both Smith and Holden have posted bond.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Kerr-Tar “Open for Business” Loans Can Provide Support To Local Companies

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If you are a local business owner employing fewer than 100 workers, there’s a no-interest loan available to you through the regional Kerr-Tar Council of Governments.

The “Open for Business” loans can provide up to $100,000 for qualified businesses who are in the process of getting back up and running after COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.

KTCOG Director Diane Cox stated the funds “are intended for use as working capital (rent, payroll, utilities), inventory, and/or equipment during shutdown and reopening.”

Cox notes one major change in qualifying for a loan is that business owners are not required to demonstrate a loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

Applicants must provide the following:

  • 2019 & 2020 Tax Returns
  • Year to Date Balance Sheet & Profit/Loss Statement
  • Balance Sheet & Profit/Loss Statement for past 2 years
  • Registration w/State of NC
  • Photo ID
  • Proof of Insurance

“Our goal is to help get local businesses back up and running,” Cox said. Applications and additional materials can be found HERE (https://www.kerrtarcog.org/revolving-loan-program/).  Contact Cox at 252.436.2040 or visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org

Clay Faulkner

Remembering Clay Faulkner: Ballgames Saturday At Aycock Rec Complex

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Clay Faulkner loved baseball. He played in high school and on several travel teams, and this Saturday, friends and family will take to the fields at Aycock Recreation Complex to remember the young man with the infectious smile who touched so many lives.

Susan Patterson, Clay’s mother, said it was actually one of her son’s friends who first had the idea of playing a baseball game in memory of Clay.

“It started out to be just a little baseball game,” Patterson told John C. Rose on Town Talk Wednesday. “We ended up with six teams.” She said she’s expecting about 70 players for Saturday’s games.

“I’m blown away by that number,” she said, adding that the interest in participating has been a humbling experience.

Anyone who wants to come to watch the games on Saturday, which are scheduled to begin around 9:30 a.m., will see Clay’s friends round the bases where Clay spent a lot of time in the years that he played ball. Patterson said she just hopes everybody has a good time, in memory of Clay.

His friends, she said, are the reason she and other family members “are still ok.” They showed up for us, she said, after Clay’s death, and she said she hopes that folks do the same on Saturday – just show up at Aycock Rec Complex and enjoy some baseball. “I don’t think I could ever give back what they have given us,” she added. Stories that Clay’s friends have shared with her are precious gifts, she said.

Clay, who died just more than a year ago, really didn’t like being the center of attention, his mother said, adding that he was more interested in doing for others. “He loved everybody and he loved his sport,” she said. He was good at it and he really applied himself to being the best he could be.

He also was a valuable team member at the local Chick-fil-a, and customers remember a polite young man with that incredible smile.
That smile he flashed sometimes meant he’d been up to something, Patterson said.

His smile sometimes got him into trouble, and a lot of times it got him out of trouble. “He was always up to some mischief,” she said.
Patterson said the games Saturday will be one more way for friends and family to remember her son. “I’ve heard several of his friends say that they are very excited to be a part of this,” she said.

“One of the things since he’s been gone that I’ve been afraid of is that people will forget,” Patterson acknowledged. “Just knowing that people haven’t forgotten – knowing that people are still treasuring the memories they have of him – is so special.”

Players should arrive at 9 a.m. at Aycock Recreation Complex. Games will start about 9:30 a.m.

TownTalk Audio. Click Play.