Duke Energy

Duke Energy Grants Available To Support Downtown Revitalization; Submit by May 31

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Local non-profit organizations in the community still have time to submit grant proposals to a Duke Energy program poised to give $500,000 to help downtown communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hometown Revitalization Grant program (click the link for details) is designed to award non-profit/small business partnerships in 20 communities in North Carolina grants of $25,000 that can be used to help small businesses pivot and continue to succeed as changes to “business-as-usual” practices have been implemented because of pandemic restrictions.

Applications are due May 31; funding decisions will be made in July and announced in August.

Whether modifying physical spaces, improving e-commerce site for online sales or purchasing specific items to comply with public health measures, the grants will be administered by the non-profit agency in the form of a small business support microgrant program, according to information from Tanya Evans, district manager for Duke’s local government and community relations. The microgrants will range from $500 to $2,500. The non-profit may use up to $2,500 of the $25,000 for administering the microgrants.

The small business support awards also may be used to reimburse small businesses for expenses already incurred. The programs must be started by Sept. 30, 2021 and the award recipients must announce the recipients by Nov. 30.

Churches and governmental agencies may not apply for the grant, neither fraternal nor lobbying groups, according to the website. Please visit Hometown Revitalization Grant program for details about the program and submitting a proposal.

(Duke Energy-Progress is an advertising client of WIZS.  This is not a paid ad.)

Coach's Corner Logo

SportsTalk 5-17-21 Kerr-Vance Academy State Championship

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Anyone who has ever played in an organized sport certainly knows how tough winning a championship can be, so imagine winning not only four state baseball championships but winning four in a row. That’s exactly what the Kerr-Vance Academy Spartans accomplished this past weekend. After dropping Friday’s game against undefeated Grace Christian in Sanford by the score of 9-6, Kerr-Vance roared back on Saturday with a convincing 6-0 win and left Sanford with another state championship.

“It feels great. The seniors pulled this group together,” said head coach Mike Rigsbee. Rigsbee has been a part of KVA baseball for many years, however this is his first season as head coach. “The players can take all the credit,” Rigsbee said of his team.

One of the stars of the Kerr-Vance Spartans is R.J. Johnson. Johnson, in his senior year, will be moving on to Appalachian State. “We played it game by game and never looked ahead,” Johnson said about the team during this season. Seniors were a big part of the KVA squad. “This senior class has really helped establish this new era of excellence,” said George Hoyle, the school’s athletic director. Hoyle said that during his time at KVA the baseball program has been to eight championship games, winning six. Referring to Grace Christian, Hoyle said, “We knew we could compete with them.” Johnson also praised his senior teammates saying, “All of the seniors stepped up.”

After Saturday’s game Grace Christian’s head coach told Rigsbee that his team just couldn’t make the adjustments needed to win. KVA lost the first game of this season to Grace Christian, but the Spartans were able to make their own adjustments as the team moved forward through the season enabling them to win their 4th state championship.

“Playing a tough schedule helped,” said Hoyle. Hoyle and Rigsbee put together a schedule that pitted the Spartans against some of the toughest teams in North Carolina and Virginia. Hoyle, who is leaving to take a similar post at Thales Academy in Wake Forest, said, “Seeing the seniors move on to the next level is unbelievable,” refering to Johnson moving on to Appalachian State. Hoyle also said that this season saw twelve Major League Baseball organizations come to Kerr Vance Academy games.

Kerr Vance finishes the season as state baseball champions for the fourth consecutive season with a 12 and 8 won lost record.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Montgomery-Davis First Responder Benefit Huge Success

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame enjoys photography and has provided some pictures from the Henderson-Vance First Responders Benefit Drive presented earlier this month in memory of Captain Michael R. Davis of the Henderson Police Department and master Trooper Brent Montgomery of North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Brame wrote in an email to WIZS News, “All the proceeds were divided equally to (the) Montgomery and Davis family. Presented by Sherby Slaughter of Tri County Shrine Club, Police Chief Marcus Barrow, Fire Chief Chris Wright, Animal Control Chief Frankie Nobles and Sheriff Curtis Brame.”

He said, “Special thanks to all that where involved, donations, purchase of tickets, sponsors, volunteers.”

Brame told WIZS the event was “a huge success.”

The pictures are surely indicative of an event to come this Wednesday, May 19th.  The Tri-County Shrine Club will present it’s 57th annual fish fry.

 

Henderson Police Department

23-Year-Old Man Shot Dead at Saturday Night Party May 15

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— press release

On Saturday, the 15th of May 2021, at approximately 11:40PM, Officers of the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Kittrell Street in reference to the discharging of a firearm in the area.

When Officers arrived, there was a large crowd of approximately 100 plus individuals gathered in the street about or near 276 Kittrell Street. Information gathered at the time of the incident indicates there was a party at this location and a fight erupted.

Soon after the fight erupted, gunshots were heard and the victim, Quashid Ragland, was shot. Quashid Ragland, age 23 of Henderson, was transported to an area medical facility where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The community has been a tremendous help thus far in this continued investigation, but we are still in need of more information. If anyone has information about this incident, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.

The Local Skinny! Henderson Empowerment Bridging Politics & Community

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Several months ago now, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department started offering a weekly series of empowerment for the community programs.  The offerings can be seen live on Facebook, or later after the interview has been completed in most cases.

On Mondays at 4 p.m., the Henderson-Vance Outreach Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Henderson-Vance-104608337596118) hosts virtual sessions for Henderson Empowerment.

Learn your basic rights and how to protect your civil liberties.

Jaleel Johnson, HVRPD youth services program coordinator, told WIZS in February, “We interview community partners,” and answer questions “that the community needs to know to make the community better.”

Knowing – and understanding – your civil rights is something that doesn’t always get taught in school, Johnson said. Although some of the topics are geared toward educating youth, Johnson said the participants range in age from 16 to 45.

For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at 252-430-0382 (cac@ci.henderson.nc.us).

VCS Administrator Receives Leadership Award From Superintendents’ Association, School Leadership Alliance

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A Vance County Schools official has received a prestigious award from the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD).

Dr. Letisha Judd-Manning, director of elementary education and professional development for Vance County Schools, is the winner of the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award for the Aspiring Superintendent Program Cohort V, according to a statement from the NCSSA. The annual award is presented to a graduate of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson called Judd-Manning “a strong and focused leader with a track record of success as a teacher, school principal and district leader. We are very proud of Dr. Judd-Manning and grateful for her leadership and dedication to Vance County Schools,” Jackson said.

Dr. Judd-Manning “exemplifies the traits that have guided Dr. Samuel Houston’s career in educational leadership, said Jack Hoke, NCSSA executive director. “She has a commitment to continuous improvement, high standards of ethical conduct, strategic planning, improving student performance and meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce,” Hoke said.

“It is an honor to receive the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award and to have participated in the Aspiring Superintendent Program,” Dr. Judd-Manning stated. “One of the greatest rewards was taking this powerful journey with this cohort of amazing N.C. educational leaders. The wisdom and expertise shared by our esteemed program leaders was extremely valuable and will have lasting influence,” she added.

Judd-Manning has been with VCS since 2017 and previously served in Durham Public Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, according to Aarika Sandlin, VCS public information officer.

career in education began 25 years ago as a teacher assistant. She went on to become a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Dr. Judd-Manning was graduated from N.C. Central University, earned a master’s degree in school administration at UNC-CH and holds a doctorate in education from High Point University.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina. Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships.

May 21 Plate Fundraiser Home Cooked Food

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Big Ruin Creek Missionary Baptist Church is having a fundraiser, and the resulting food options are going to be many.

There will be a plate sale on May 21 at 11 a.m.  It will take place at 421 Pearl Street, Henderson.

The menu will include baked chicken, fish and meatloaf for $8 each.  Chitterlings and barbecue will be $10 each.  If you would like a combination plate, no problem.  Combination plates will be $12 each.

Sides will consist of collard greens, turnip greens, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and cornbread.

As the notice asking WIZS to announce this said, “Come and get some good home cooked food.”

If you would like to contact anyone in advance, let it be Margaret Gregory at 767-1593.