TownTalk: Business Spotlight – Ninja Realty

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For James Hutson, it all started with a 1994 green Thunderbird. And a personal desire to keep moving forward.

That T-bird was Hutson’s first car, and he bought it with money he earned from having yard sales.

Even then, as a teenager, Hutson was a salesman. He said he sold whatever he could get his hands on and put out on the yard on Carey Chapel Road. He had a goal: He had to buy a car.

He held yard sales all summer long back in 2004, and he figured out a way to extend his reach and get the word out about his yard sales. He called Tradio on WIZS.

Yep, Tradio.

“I sold so much on Tradio,” Hutson said.

“Without Tradio, I wouldn’t have gotten that first car as fast as I did,” he said.

When October rolled around, with his car – paid in full – in the front yard, the young man was on his way. Hutson celebrated his 16th birthday at his first job – Taco Bell.

Those yard sales – along with his positive, forward-thinking outlook – combined to propel Hutson into a career in real estate, which he landed on in a somewhat haphazard manner.

Now, as the owner of Henderson-based Ninja Realty and Boom Management, Hutson works with a team of highly skilled agents and real estate specialists to provide a full complement of services for their clients.

But when he was a student at Southern Vance High School, Hutson had plans of becoming a carpenter, a homebuilder.

That is, until he took carpentry class and learned that, as he put it, he wasn’t very good.

About that same time, his computer teacher gave the class an assignment to write about where they’d be after graduation, and, almost on a whim, Hutson said he decided he’d choose realtor.

He’d remembered a local realtor who’d helped a family member a few years earlier, Hutson said. So that’s the career he wrote about.

He and another student were in the running for a Teaching Fellows scholarship, but “I turned it down for real estate,” Hutson recalled. In hindsight, a good decision.

Fast-forward to Day 1 at real estate school. Hutson learned something in the first five minutes that had him all set to head for the door: Real estate, the instructor said, is commission-based.

What?

But there were no refunds, Hutson explained, somewhat philosophically adding, “we just keep moving forward, no refunds. Keep it moving.”

A single point kept him from passing the real estate exam on the first try. He needed an 80 and got a 79. It was close to a year before he could take the exam again, mostly because of the $500 fee he didn’t have.

But he used that time to lobby Vance-Granville Community College to add a real estate class, which it did. Hutson took the class, taught by former real estate appraiser Fern Boyd, and when he sat for the exam a second time, he “passed it with flying colors.”

Fast-forward again to 2015 when Ninja Realty began. Within a couple of years, he had taken the company independent and now, their bright orange signs are on homes for sale and for rent, as well as commercial properties.

Recently, a commercial property owner worked with Hutson’s consulting team for about 10 months to get the property ready for the market, and it’s currently under contract – for between $300,000 and $400,000 more than before the Ninja team got involved.

“I like seeing people reach their goals,” Hutson said. One of Ninja Realty’s core values is building generational wealth.

“I believe the best way to help a community is to help get it out of poverty,” he said. “Poverty is the enemy of everyone…if you create generational wealth and you change that system that people have been in for who knows how long – some people’s family has been in poverty for hundreds of years – you can really set a new course for people.”

There’s another core value, Hutson calls it Ninja’s “secret sauce” that he’s happy to share.

“We truly do try to treat everyone the way we want to be treated,” he said.

Landlords who work with Hutson’s team to manage their rental properties can rest assured that the Ninja team is going to treat their property as if it were their own. He employs the same negotiating style for clients as he would if he were buying a property for himself. “Everything I’m doing for me is what I do for the consumer,” he said.

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Breaking the Silence

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today in this segment, we talk about everything that men and fathers have to “carry” and how it can be healthy to talk to others about what you are going through.

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

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Swift Local Reaction Against Section 5 Of SB 214 Results In Removal Of Controversial Wording

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A new version of the conference report known as Senate Bill 214 has been released and no longer contains Part V, Section 5 that would have allowed Franklin County to take property from Vance, Warren and Halifax counties without the approval or consent of those counties’ leadership.

N.C. Rep. Bryan Cohn represents District 32 in the N.C. House, and he told WIZS News that he could confirm that the Section 5 wording had been removed. “I was standing in the principal clerk’s office when the new version came down,” Cohn said on Wednesday.

N.C. Speaker of the House Destin Hall told colleagues in the House Chamber on Tuesday that the issue needs to be worked out locally.

Cohn reiterated remarks he made to members of the Henderson City Council during a special called meeting on Monday in calling for good faith discussions going forward to find a solution to the water issue.

“We are still working in good faith to make sure that we have this water issue worked out and that we do so locally…this is consistent with what I told Henderson City Council members on Monday,” he said.

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott was among a contingent of local residents who traveled to Raleigh on Tuesday to show up in person at the Legislative Building to express opposition to the controversial wording contained in the bill.

Elliott told WIZS Wednesday, “We believe in collaboration, not overreach. Section 5 of SB 214 in North Carolina removes local voices from decisions that directly impact our land, our water, and our future – and that’s something we cannot support.”

SportsTalk: Former Vance County AD Joe Sharrow Named NCHSAA AD of the Year

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Joe Sharrow is a familiar name around Vance County. Although Sharrow didn’t grow up here, he claims Henderson as his second hometown because he grew here, with more than 10 years working in Vance County Schools and becoming a high school athletic director – first at Southern Vance and then at Vance County High School.

So when Sharrow was named the winner of this year’s Dave Harris Athletic Director Award of Excellence by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, there was no doubt he wanted to make sure that folks in Vance County heard the news.

At the time, the 26-year-old was the youngest AD in North Carolina, and he said he learned from mentors like Ed Wilson and Dave Jennings. They always were there for him, helping him grow in his role as athletic director

When Sharrow left Vance County in 2022 for Jordan High School in Durham, it took little time for him to create a championship atmosphere there.

Now he’s finishing up his first year at Felton Grove High School in Wake County – a place where he’s had to lean on his previous experiences to get things done.

If you’re thinking that Felton Grove High School doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a good reason – it’s still under construction.

The school opened in August 2025, in the general area where Cary, Apex and Holly Springs converge, Sharrow explained to WIZS’s Scout Hughes and “Doc” Ayscue on SportsTalk Wednesday. The school has 9th and 10th graders this year and will add a class each year for the next couple of years.

It’s a pretty impressive structure, Sharrow said, with a 4-story parking deck and a 500,000 square-foot building.

Just like workers are physically building the structure, AD Sharrow has had to build the athletic program from the ground up.

And his “blueprints” have presented interesting challenges throughout the year.

The school fielded all varsity sports this year (except football), despite having only freshmen and sophomores.

But Sharrow said he’s already got the feeling that the school will be poised for greatness in the next couple of years. The men’s lacrosse and women’s volleyball teams have been impressive; he predicts one of those teams will win a state championship before the school moves from current 6A classification to 8A in a few years.

It’s been a lot to create a whole athletic program from scratch, but Sharrow said Wake County Public Schools System recognized his leadership abilities from the way he navigated a high school consolidation and then turning around the program at Jordan so quickly.

One of the things Sharrow said he had to do during the high school consolidation was to take inventories at Southern Vance and Northern Vance to determine which equipment to keep and use in the new Vance County High School.

And although combining existing inventories isn’t quite the same as starting from scratch, Sharrow said that experience proved helpful.

“I have inventory lists from Vance County – that’s what Felton Grove was based on,” he said.

“We had to order all of it, but the knowledge was there and that came from Vance County.”

Something else that he took away from Vance County is dealing with a unique mascot.

Felton Grove’s mascot is Galaxy. He’s working with it.

Sort of like how he worked with the Vance County High School Viper.

The Felton Grove Galaxy colors are Columbia blue and red (think Houston Oilers football), and Sharrow no doubt will be loyal to the school’s teams.

But there’s also no doubt, he said, that he’ll always “bleed” Viper green and black and Raider blues and white.

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TownTalk: Local Teen Creates ‘Henderson NewsLine’ To Report On Community Issues

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Jackson Taylor is a home-schooled student who spends several hours each morning on his four classes.

That frees up his afternoons, evenings – and weekends – for online endeavors, but it has nothing to do with video games, online chats or TikTok videos. Taylor spends a lot of his time away from his studies focused on Henderson Newsline, an online local journalism project that is gaining momentum – and followers.

When he spoke with WIZS recently, he said he expected his 2.5K followers to tick up to 2.6K by day’s end. Taylor is thinking about expanding his reach beyond his current Facebook platform. He’s analyzing the demographics of the people who are following his stories, and said he’d like his work to springboard one day beyond the current social media outlet.

But Taylor isn’t some college Journalism student with aspirations of catapulting to the New York Times or Washington Post.

Taylor’s 14. He’s in middle school.

The teenager said it was toward the end of 5th grade when the idea popped into his head to start a student-led community outlet focused on delivering news.

He knew the “what,” but he didn’t know the “how,” so he did what a lot of people do – he turned to the Internet for help. He found instructional videos to help him work through some of the logistics of starting an online social media-based news outlet.

Henderson Newsline started in December 2025 and in the ensuing months, the site has gained followers.

“I didn’t expect it to go anywhere,” he said. “I was just kinda doing my own thing…

and it has gone through the roof. It’s grown faster than I expected.”

His “strong passion” for public safety – think law enforcement and the fire service – fuel his desire to share information on his social media feed.

He said Henderson Newsline is focused on public safety, providing a reliable source of information on a free platform.

Taylor is out and about in the community and attends local events just like other traditional journalists.

“I talk to people, gather information and try to put stories out,” he said. It’s the mix of “on-the-ground” reporting and digital engagement that help him to carve his own niche.

“I saw a gap and that gap is not enough news,” Taylor said. “Not enough positive news, not enough accurate news…someone needed to step in.”

He said he enjoys the work he’s doing but admits that it does get tiring at times. Listening to the police scanner half the night – even on weekends – can get old.

“It gets tiring, but I also think it pays off,” he said.

Taylor doesn’t know what the future holds, but he said he envisions himself in a role that brings together his interests in public safety and journalism – perhaps a public information role in a police department, sheriff’s office or the State Highway Patrol.

In the meantime, he said he hopes Henderson Newsline grows into “a trusted well-known news source in the region.”

He plans to continue to serve the community and provide accurate and fact-checked information.

And one day, maybe one day, expand into broadcasting either on the radio or on television.

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Community Partners Of Hope Name New Executive Director

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Community Partners of Hope announces the appointment of Jhanderys (Jhan) Dotel-Vellenga as its executive director.

Dotel-Vellenga brings a foundation in community development, pastoral leadership and cross-cultural partnership building to the role. She steps into the role with a clear vision for advancing the organization’s mission and expanding its impact across the Henderson region, according to a press statement from CPOH.

As the new executive director, Dotel-Vellenga will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization and will oversee shelter and program operations, financial management, fundraising and community engagement efforts. She will work closely with the board of directors and supervise program leadership to ensure excellence across all services.

Community Partners of Hope provides integrated services through its men’s shelter, Hope House, and the Freedom Bridge Resource Center, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and those affected by substance use disorder. Under Dotel-Vellenga’s leadership, the organization aims to build on its strong foundation while pursuing sustainable growth and innovation.

“Community Partners of Hope represents the kind of collaborative, compassionate work that transforms lives and strengthens communities,” said Dotel-Vellenga. “I am honored to serve in this role and to help guide the organization as we deepen partnerships, expand access to resources, and walk alongside individuals on their journey toward stability and hope.”

Dotel-Vellenga’s professional background reflects a deep commitment to service and leadership among vulnerable populations. Most recently, she served as a mission co-worker through the Presbyterian Church, in Managua, Nicaragua, where she helped to coordinate community development initiatives, cultivated partnerships, and supported programs focused on food security, women’s empowerment, and pastoral formation. Her experience includes program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and cross-cultural collaboration—key elements of effective nonprofit leadership.

Her work also includes extensive involvement in prison ministry, restorative justice programs, and reentry support, as well as volunteer service in women’s shelters and mentoring programs. These experiences have equipped her with a nuanced understanding of the challenges surrounding homelessness, substance use disorder, and reintegration.

Dotel-Vallenga will work closely with the entire board of directors, but particularly with Jeanette Floyd and Jane King, co-chairs of the board. “Jhan brings both strategic insight and a deep sense of compassion to this role,” said Dr. Floyd, “Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our programs and expanding our reach in the community.”

“I look forward to having Jhan assume many of the essential tasks that have previously been spread among various board members” said Jane King. “She will add much needed continuity and direction.”

Eckerd Connects Is Latest Member Spotlight Recipient From Henderson-Vance Chamber Of Commerce

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Eckerd Connects is the latest Chamber Member Spotlight recipient, a program of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Lorena Marquiz, a recruiter for the past four years at Eckerd Connects, accepted the presentation on Apr. 23 from Chamber Board member Dr. Wykia Macon.

Eckerd Connects operates programs in 20 states and the District of Columbia, including four residential programs in North Carolina. The local program serves girls ages 13-17 who are involved in the juvenile justice system.

At the Eckerd Girls Residential Academy at Kerr Lake, located near Manson, the girls attend a school on site, have access to mental health professionals and treatment options for substance use, among many other opportunities for care.

The girls typically are in the program for up to nine months, with follow-up for two years after that. The local program partners with various organizations as well as Job Corps centers.

Eckerd Connects was established in the early 1960’s by Jack and Ruth Eckerd, owners of Eckerd Drugs. The first program was created for boys in Florida. Since then, programs have been established across the country to provide opportunities for young people to get back on track with school, develop skills and return to their homes and communities.

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Opposes Specific Wording of SB 214

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Too much opposition, and Senate Bill 214 has been removed from both the N.C. Senate and N.C. House calendars as of this writing April 28, 2026.

For the day, that is success, depending on who you ask.  It is a medium-sized battle victory in an overall water war.  Strong language, but the label does suggest aptly that it didn’t just start, and it is by no means over.

The latest controversy stemmed from part five of the conference report (Senate Bill 214) added last week by leaders in the House.  The controversy here is about water.  The controversy here and all over North Carolina is how vague the wording looked, felt and may have been applied.

The controversy of part five, for the moment, has wiped out the whole bill.  Yanked from the calendars.  Possibly not just because of part five, but for this area, part five has been the focus and it’s drawn the most heat.

It is likely that opposition is what stopped the legislation for now.  The formal opposition, the vocal opposition, the quiet opposition on phone calls and emails and texts flooding into Raleigh, along with possible future embarrassment for leaders, have all added up.

A conference report, as we understand it, intends to allow the House and Senate to have two readings, and as long as there are two passes by each chamber, the matter becomes law.  No Governor.  No amendment once it reaches the floor.  And a very powerful tool.  But typically used, apparently anyway, to make various adjustments to aid local governments around the state.

For Henderson this win, over the last week, now allows time to plan, talk, negotiate and bring partners and water customers to the table, plus hopefully finish the long overhaul of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System plant and bring its upgraded capacity online in a couple of months.

So, what is next?  Immediately? The overwhelming loudness that can come from quiet.  What are they doing now, both sides will ask.

Any leader sitting still in the quiet is no leader.  He or she is just a follower, waiting to react to the next thing.

(The audio below comes from TownTalk on 4-28-26 which occurred before the latest update above was posted.)

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