Town Talk 08/20/19: Vipers Kick Off Friday Night Football With Game Against Bunn

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

It’s officially football season, and WIZS has you covered locally with “Vance County Friday Night Football” live every Friday evening on 1450AM, 100.1 FM, and via live stream at www.wizs.com. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m.; kickoff and play-by-play coverage begin at 7 p.m.

Also, be sure to tune-in to WIZS’ weekly Coach’s Corner Show each Friday at 1 p.m. This week, to kick off the season, the Coach’s Corner will originate live from Citizens Pub and Grill in downtown Henderson.

WIZS’ own John Charles Rose and Trey Snide were on Tuesday’s edition of Town Talk to provide an overview of the Vance County High School Vipers’ second overall athletic season and first season as part of the Big Eight 3A Conference.

Playing in their first game this Friday evening, August 23, 2019, the Vipers take on the Bunn Wildcats at home. The Vipers finished with a 4 – 7 record in their first season of play as a combined high school last year.

The first four games of the season are nonconference matches; conference play in the Big Eight 3A begins with a game against the Chapel Hill Tigers on September 27.

The final game of the regular season is scheduled at home against the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves on November 8.

The Vipers will also face the East Chapel Hill Wildcats, Southern Durham Spartans, Orange Panthers, Northern Durham Knights and Northwood Chargers in conference play.

Snide, who enters his third year covering Friday Night Football for WIZS, said Vipers Coach Darry Ragland is excited about this season, especially quarterback Samein Burwell.

“This is the first year Burwell has had a complete off-season and workout program,” said Snide. “In the sixth, seventh or eighth game of the regular season, that’s when Burwell finally had a full year under his belt under the brand new offense the Vipers were bringing with Coach Ragland.”

Snide said Ragland has expressed “excitement about Burwell’s potential” and hopes to improve on last year’s record of 1,800 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

On the Wildcats end, second-year Bunn Head Football Coach Bradley Murphy spoke with Snide and said the Vipers can expect his team to bring “hustle and effort” to Friday’s match.

“We are going to come and give our best effort and best hustle on and off the field,” Murphy said. “I tell my boys all the time if they give their best, I’ll be proud of them at the end of the game regardless of the final score.”

Snide said the outcome of this first game, along with additional nonconference games scheduled against the Warren County Eagles, J.F. Webb Warriors and Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets, will set the tone for the Viper’s season.

“We are going to see what this team is all about, especially in the first four games leading up to the Big Eight Conference. These are teams we should be able to handle pretty well if the offense and defense can play on the same playing field,” Snide said.

Snide and WIZS’ other “colorful” cast of Vance County Friday Night Football announcers are looking forward to rooting on the Vipers this season. In fact, Rose said he can document coverage of what is now known as Vance County Friday Night Football back to at least 50 of the station’s 64 years on the airwaves.

“None of this is about us, however,” said Rose. “This is about the school, this is about Vance County, this is about the listenership, but most important, this is about the student-athletes. WIZS cannot wait to highlight the student-athletes – the quarterbacks, the defensive players, as well as the coaches and assistant coaches.”

To hear the Vance County Friday Night Football Town Talk discussion in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

VGCC Holds Convocation, Recognizes Employees’ Years of Service

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-Information and photos courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College held Convocation on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the Main Campus in Henderson.

Faculty and staff with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service were recognized and are pictured below.

5 Years of Service (front row, seated, left to right) Dr. Erica Fleming, Julie Hicks, Erin Folz (second row, left to right) Leslie Hurt, Stacey Soles, Victoria Whited, April Rossi, Melanie Copeland, Faith Harris, Stephen Barney (third row, left to right) Stewart Lyon, Isaac Talley, Robert Newby, Gregory Wilson, Steven Graham, Luther Curtis, Wallace Evans, Ken Wilson, Mike Brodie.

10 Years of Service (front row, left to right) Frankie Frink, Veta Pierce-Cappetta, MaryBeth Vick (back row, left to right) Sean Newton, Lyndon Hall.

15 Years of Service (left to right) Rusty Pace, Dr. Tracey Carter, Lisa Edwards.

20 Years of Service (seated, left to right) Julie Jones, Wille Mae Foster-Hill, Jennifer Allen (standing) Craig Saunders.

25 Years of Service (left to right) Susan Cease, Donna Gill, Tomeka Carter.

30 Years of Service Larraine Abbott.

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist to Host Choir Day 2019

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-Information courtesy Angela Crawford, Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church will host Choir Day 2019 on Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 3 p.m.

Performing choirs will be Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Senior Choir, Male Chorus, Junior Choir and Mass Choir. Guest choirs will also be performing on the program.

The Emcee for the program will be Deacon Sandra Waverly. The public is cordially invited to attend.

The church is located at 2464 Rock Mill Rd. in Henderson.

News 08/20/19

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Salvation Army

Town Talk 08/19/19: Salvation Army Welcomes Derrick & Odessa Smith

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Vance County’s Salvation Army recently welcomed new leaders Lts. Derrick and Odessa Smith, a husband-and-wife team last stationed in Alamance County.

The Smiths take over for the recently retired Captain Rick Langley and wife Angie who headed the local Salvation Army operation since 2012.

Odessa, who has been a part of the Salvation Army since she was four years old, said it was her experience and love for the ministry that attracted husband Derrick, originally of Duplin County, to serve.

“I’ll be honest, when she first invited me, I thought we were having church at a thrift store,” Derrick recalled with a laugh. “I remember vividly going to the Salvation Army for the first time and the people just came around and loved me like I had been there for 20 years!”

The Smiths have arrived at a transitional time for the local ministry, specifically with the opening of a new facility and ball fields encompassing a 40-acre lot on Ross Mill Road in Henderson. The new building will be located near Mako Medical Laboratories and Vance Charter School.

According to Odessa, the facility is expected to be completed in mid to late October with a ribbon-cutting and building dedication ceremony to follow in November.

The new facility will allow for more space for what the Smiths have identified through studies to be one of the greatest needs of the community – youth services.

“One of the biggest needs is youth development,” explained Odessa. “We would like to have after-school programs, mentoring programs and partnerships with local schools and other community organizations.”

In an interview with WIZS prior to his retirement in June, Rick Langley stated that the new facility will include a community center, gym, full-size commercial kitchen and two ball fields – baseball and soccer.

In addition to hosting Salvation Army-related games, the ballfields will double as the home field of the neighboring Vance Charter School Knights.

While construction is underway on the new building, the Salvation Army will continue to operate from its 355 Alexander Avenue location in Henderson.

The former Salvation Army Store, located at 222 W. Montgomery Street in downtown Henderson, is currently used for storage and provides the space needed to organize larger donations such as furniture, according to Derrick.

The new Salvation Army Store, located at 218 Raleigh Road in Henderson, recently held a one-day anniversary sale on August 10.

“We both want to thank the community for showing up,” Derrick said. “We had folks lining up at 8 a.m. waiting for the sale to begin at 9 a.m. It was a very successful day.”

According to Derrick, one of the highlights of the day was talking to people and making them aware of just how much their purchases were helping the community. “I don’t think many people know this, but 85 cents of every dollar spent goes back to help people in this community.”

“We’ve already seen that we have a very generous community here,” said Derrick. “It helps us to fulfill the Salvation Army’s mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.”

To hear the Smiths’ Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

 

Is Your Small Business Prepared for a Disaster? Find Out at ‘Lunch Break to Educate’

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

The American Red Cross, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center invite you to attend “Lunch Break to Educate: Disaster Preparedness and Your Small Business.”

Sponsored by Joel T. Cheatham Insurance, the lunch session will be held at Henderson Fire Department (211 Dabney Drive) from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

According to the American Red Cross Ready Rating Program, as many as 40 percent of businesses fail following a disaster, and still, only 62 percent of small and medium-sized businesses have emergency plans in place.

This seminar will consist of a 15-20 minute Ready Rating presentation with question and answer segment. Ready Rating is a free, online American Red Cross program that allows businesses & organizations to either make an emergency preparedness plan or improve the one they already have.

All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property.

Whether you are taking your first steps or have a fully-functioning emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness. Learn how at this event.

Speaker(s): Kelly Ferrell, Disaster Program Specialist and Jayla Burwell, Disaster Program Intern.

The first 15 to register will receive free lunch; $10 after first 15.

Online registration is required by visiting https://www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=530390037.

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City Council to Consider Contracting With Firm in Manager Hiring Process

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Mayor Eddie Ellington has requested a Special Called meeting of the Henderson City Council on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at City Hall in the Multi-Purpose Room, 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson.

The purpose of the meeting is for consideration of contracting with a professional firm to assist with the hiring of the new City Manager.

Citizens are welcome to observe.

Ellington wrote in a message to WIZS News, “I have called a special City Council Meeting, Wednesday 21st at noon, to discuss further on moving forward with hiring a well known and respected search firm. The City Manager, City Attorney and I recommend that this is the best direction with the utmost need for confidentiality, professionalism, taking into consideration time constraints. The firm which has access to well established contacts, will do the vetting of the candidate pool, narrowing the top contenders of the most qualified, then the City Council along with myself will make the final decision.”

City Manager Frank Frazier wrote in a message to WIZS News, “After we looked at this closer, it was felt that we (the city) would be in a better position if we hired an outside firm to help with the recruitment process and more thoroughly evaluate the internal and external applications prior to moving toward the interview process. Overall it was felt that this would save some time but also be more able to keep the candidates confidentiality in place as well as the professionalism that was previously discussed with the League.”

News 08/19/19

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VGCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration to Include Food Truck Rodeo, Live Music

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Vance-Granville Community College invites the public to join administrators, faculty, students and staff in a celebratory event, sponsored by Duke Energy, in honor of the college’s “50 Years of Excellence Since 1969.”

This “golden” anniversary celebration will include a food truck rodeo on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo of the Main Campus in Henderson (200 Community College Road).

The band “Liquid Pleasure” will also be entertaining the crowd with live music.

*Please note that alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited at VGCC. 

Henderson/Vance Annual Night Out Against Crime Scheduled for Oct. 1

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-Information courtesy the Henderson Police Department

Henderson/Vance’s Annual Night Out Against Crime will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2019, from 5 until 8 p.m. in front of the Henderson Police Department on Breckenridge Street. The rain date will be Tuesday, October 8.

Bring your family out for presentations and displays by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, Henderson Fire Department, Vance County Fire and EMS, NC State Highway Patrol, Vance County Schools and many other agencies and organizations working together with the community to prevent crime and promote safety.