Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Today, we start a new series called, “Nobody Taught Dad This”. Today we speak about how love doesn’t always teach you how to parent.
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— press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
On the evening of September 14, 2026 an inmate of the Vance County Jail, Kenneth Blair Pendergrass (45), was discovered unresponsive in his cell by Vance County Jail Staff. Pendergrass was subsequently transported to Maria Parham, where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent self-inflicted injury. Pendergrass was in-custody on narcotics related charges. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this case and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (252)738-2200.
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Plans for a day-long community symposium set for Friday, Sept. 25 in downtown Henderson have been firmed up – speakers, panelists – and food! – are nailed down, and all that’s left is to register to attend, if you haven’t already done so.
According to Debbie Scott, Vance County Sheriff’s Office’s domestic violence, gang resources educator and juvenile outreach coordinator, the symposium will bring together people from across the community to discuss youth safety, with a focus on gun violence.
“We are ready!” Scott exclaimed on the Wednesday segment of The Local Skinny!
So far, more than 70 people from Vance and surrounding counties are registered. The event is free to attend, and Scott said there’s still time to register.
The symposium is being sponsored by the Vance County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council with support from partners like Chick fil A and First United Methodist Church, the site of the event.
The church is located at 122 Church St. in downtown Henderson.
Check-in and registration is from 7:45 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. in advance of the 8:30 start time.
Following opening remarks by Nancy Hux with Vaya Health – another sponsor – Vance Schools Superintendent Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney, the Rev. Johnny LLerena (Yeh RAY nuh) from First United Methodist and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame, Scott said the morning sessions would include updates about youth gang activity in the state and an address from Richard Mickey Hayes, a local youth advocate with a ministry called “Mickey Cares.”
There will be a question-and-answer period for a panel of experts in the session right before lunch, then the afternoon will be dedicated to discussion of existing goals and the creation of an action plan moving forward.
The symposium is dedicated to the youth of the community and beyond, Scott said.
“We do better when we come together to work to give our youth what they deserve,” she said.
“It is about making those connections and building relationships that builds partnerships, she added.
“The more people at the table, we can make the connections to the services and the resources..that they have about what we can do that works best.”
Call 252.738.2235 or email dscott@vancecounty.org to learn more.
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In the spirit of being a good community partner, Perry Memorial Library Youth Services Director Melody Peters said she’s going all in for Saturday’s Ducky Derby: She bought a Quack Pack (five ducks for $20) for the annual fundraiser that supports local Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start and its programs.
The festivities surrounding the Derby begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and Peters said library staff will be on site downtown to show off the Bookmobile and provide crafts and other fun things for young people to enjoy before the race begins at 2 p.m.
“It’s a great family day,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! with WIZS’s Scout Hughes.
The first duck to make it across the finish line wins a cool $1,000 for its owner; second prize is Chick-fil-A for a year.
There’s still time to purchase the numbered ducks – visit https://fgvsmartstart.org/ and click on the link to purchase ducks or sponsor the event.
September finds library staff busy with programs inside and out, and Peters invites young people and the adults in their life back to the library on Monday, Sept. 21 for Tobacco 101 and Project Open Air.
The program begins at 5:30 p.m., but don’t fret – there will be pizza, Peters said.
This is the first time the library has hosted the program, which melds education and discussion about tobacco use and vaping with the creation of a video that can be used to inspire change in others.
It’s a way to include people in the conversation, Peters said. “A lot of people really enjoy being included in the conversation. People like to be part of the solution and people always enjoy creativity,” she said.
Young people will get a chance to create artwork that promotes a positive message for other kids.
The next Monday, on Sept. 28, the library will open its doors – literally – from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for an open house.
Many in the community already know about the library and all it offers, but Peters said it’s always good to remind people about all the services the library provides.
Come to learn more, make a cool button with the library’s button-making machine and learn more by participating in an interactive bookmark activity.
There will be things to see and do all across the library – upstairs, downstairs, on the patio (weather permitting) and in the Farm Bureau room
You won’t want to miss it.
Peters said the library will show the movie “Encanto” at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 as the library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition, there are a couple of book displays featuring authors that represent the diverse backgrounds that span Spanish-speaking countries and cultures from around the world.
Visit www.perrylibrary.org to learn about all the programs and services at Perry Memorial Library.
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The Vance County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to put a 60-day moratorium in place for data center development.
Commissioners Leo Kelly and Valencia Perry voted against the motion put forward by Commissioner Tommy Hester.
Commissioner Perry told WIZS News Tuesday that the 60-day moratorium was “a smokescreen. The text amendment will be fixed and it will no longer be needed.”
Before Hester made the motion, Kelly made a motion for a 6-month moratorium, but County Attorney Jonathan Care said the motion could not be made because proper notice had not been advertised.
Because the legal notice publicized a 60-day moratorium, that was what commissioners could vote on.
During two public hearings – both involving data centers – commissioners on Monday heard from members of the public who oppose the data center development on a roughly 500-acre tract along U.S. Hwy. 158.
In comments to those in the audience, Kelly said he didn’t think a 60-day moratorium was long enough. He said he would be in favor of a 6-month or longer moratorium.
Commissioner Yolanda Feimster said she agreed with Kelly that more time was needed, but ultimately voted in favor of the 60-day moratorium.
In comments as much to the audience as to her fellow commissioners, Feimster said she has learned about data centers from the public as well as doing her own research.
“I think the public assumes because we have not acted in this way or that way…that we are not listening to what they are saying. We get the emails, we read the emails,” she said.
“We are in a situation where we have to look at the entire picture,” Feimster continued. “There’s a whole county full of people and everybody has their own opinions, everybody has their own concerns. We have to look at the concerns of everybody. And that’s not something that can happen overnight. It does take time.”
Commissioner Perry said Tuesday that she would be in favor of a year-long moratorium for the future, in the event that other developers approach the county that commissioners will have time to consider it and “learn from this experience.”
The 60-day moratorium began upon its adoption Monday night, and County Manager Renee Perry clarified Tuesday that it would terminate on Nov. 13 or upon adoption of an amendment to the requirements for data centers in the current Vance County zoning ordinance.
County Manager Perry stated, “The Board reserves the right to extend, amend, or repeal this moratorium as deemed necessary in accordance with N.C.G.S. 160D-107.”
At a meeting in August, Attorney Care said that, by law, commissioners must clearly identify four specific areas to satisfy the requirements necessary to put a moratorium in place, including a statement of the problems and conditions, the development approvals that would be subject to the moratorium, a date for termination of the moratorium and a statement of actions and schedule of actions that the county will undertake during the moratorium.
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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
This week’s segment shines some light on the mystery of seed patents and announces an upcoming seed saving workshop.
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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The Vance County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a legislative hearing for Monday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. to receive public comments about two topics surrounding data centers – including the possible adoption of a 60-day moratorium and the proposed zoning ordinance amendment that deals with data center development.
The meeting will be held in the commissioners’ meeting room, located on the second floor of the county administrative office building, 122 Young St.
According to published legal ads notifying the public about the hearings, the moratorium ordinance being considered would address “the acceptance, processing, and approval of development applications for data centers submitted after the adoption of the moratorium within Vance County.
Questions can be directed to Vance County Planning Department at 252.738.2080. For more information, visit
https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/planning-and-development/planning-board
or
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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Fire resistant landscape can protect your home from wildfires.
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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