George Daye Presented Key to the City; Elected Henderson Officials Sworn In

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

At Monday’s Henderson City Council meeting, Mayor Eddie Ellington presented outgoing Councilmember George Daye with the key to the city. Daye lost his re-election bid for the 4th Ward seat in October to Jason Spriggs.

A symbolic gesture, the key represents a trust in Daye and an appreciation for his years of service to both the Council and the community.

At the Dec. 9 Henderson City Council meeting, Mayor Eddie Ellington (right) presented outgoing Councilmember George Daye (left) with the key to the city. Daye lost his re-election bid for the 4th Ward seat in October to Jason Spriggs. (Photo courtesy Steve Cordell, Henderson Fire Chief)

“Mr. Daye has certainly brought a lot of wisdom to our Council,” City Manager Frank Frazier said in an interview aired on WIZS’ Town Talk on Tuesday. “Oftentimes, Mr. Daye and I would walk out together [of meetings] and be the last ones to leave. We had several interesting conversations, especially about public safety. He is going to be severely missed.”

Frazier, who was honored with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the Council meeting, said he is looking forward to seeing what Spriggs will bring to the City and respects Daye’s positive attitude toward the election results.

“When he [Daye] decided to run this last time, he said ‘If I win, I win. If I don’t, I’m sure it will be in good hands with Jason,’” Frazier stated. “We have talked about George continuing to serve the City on various committees.”

Spriggs, along with Ellington, Marion Brodie Williams, Mike Rainey and Melissa Elliott were sworn in at Monday’s meeting.

Councilmember Sara Coffey was appointed the City’s mayor pro tem, a distinction that permits her to stand in at meetings and other events in the absence of the mayor.

In other agenda items, several citizens spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting in favor of an ordinance allowing golf carts and other low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on city streets.

The Council voted to move forward on the ordinance allowing the use of LSVs in a “manner that will be safe to both traditional motorists and those operating the golf carts,” Frazier said. “Safety is the prime point of what we are trying to achieve with the ordinance.”

While Frazier said additional tweaks may need to be made, the ordinance as currently written requires the driver of the LSV to be 16 years of age or older and carry liability insurance on the vehicle.

The vehicle will also be required to have proper registration, functioning lights and turn signals, and shall not be operated on or alongside a public road or street with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour.

LSVs are also not allowed on the following roadways that have been deemed a hazard due to traffic volume, visibility and collision data: NC HWY 158 Bypass; Andrews Avenue (NC 39); Beckford Drive; Dabney Drive; Dabney Drive Extension; Graham Avenue; Garnett Street (North of Andrews Avenue); Oxford Road (158 Business); Raleigh Road (US1 Business); Ruin Creek Road; North Cooper Drive.

To review current and prior Henderson City Council meeting agendas and minutes, please click here.

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H-V Chamber Accepting Applications for 2020 Leadership Vance Program

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

It’s time to apply for Leadership Vance! If you haven’t been through the Chamber’s Leadership Vance program, you don’t want to miss the 2020 session.

Leadership Vance is a proven, structured program, designed to create a corps of informed and dedicated emerging leaders in our community. Upon graduation, program participants will be qualified to meet the present and future challenges facing Henderson and Vance County.

Leadership Vance will inform, challenge and educate participants on the opportunities and needs of the community. Participants will strengthen their leadership skills while learning about the social, economic, and political dynamics that shape our community.

Leadership Vance will encourage the development of interpersonal relationships among the participants and establish an ongoing resource network.

The intensive training and exposure to all aspects of the community will provide participants with the historical background and the skills necessary for volunteer, civic and community positions. It will also benefit participants in their business and career goals.

Individuals who live or work in Vance County are invited to apply. A select number of participants will be chosen by the Leadership Vance Selection Committee and will represent all backgrounds, occupations and geographic areas of Vance County.

To receive maximum benefit from Leadership Vance, it is essential that participants and their employers be willing to commit the time necessary for successful completion of the program. A participant is expected to attend all sessions, barring extreme emergencies. A maximum of two excused absences is permitted in order to graduate from the Leadership Vance program. All participants are expected to plan and participate as a team in a community service project.

The program cost is $350 for Chamber members and $425 for non-Chamber members. The tuition fee includes all course materials, meals, retreat expenses, travel, graduation banquet and diploma.

All participants should submit a completed application to the Chamber office no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

For more information, contact Sandra Wilkerson at (252) 438-8414 or by email at sandra@hendersonvance.org.

Town Talk 12/11/19

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New VGCC Scholarship Honors Maria Parham Guild Gift Gallery Volunteer

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Volunteers from the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Health recently presented $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create a new scholarship. This scholarship — the 14th established by the Guild Gift Gallery in recent years — honors the memory of one of the volunteers, the late Vernell Champion of Henderson.

Champion passed away in November of 2018 at age 76.

In front, from left: Guild Gift Gallery volunteers Claire Catherwood, Tricia Kleczek, Gean Bobbitt, Charlotte Ayscue and Beverly Parrish. In back, from left: VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson with volunteers Fern Ellington, Stephanie Stringer, Pat Ayscue, Shaaron Reynolds, Betty Abbott, Jean Hutchins and Ralph Hutchins. Not pictured: volunteers Shannon Clark, Carol Pegram, Margie Moss, Gail Malone, Jean Norwood, Debra Smiley, Cathy Nowell, Judy Campbell, Sylvia Anderson, Linda Washburn and Anne Bunch. (VGCC photo)

“Vernell was one special lady,” her fellow gift shop volunteer Cathy Robertson remembered. “Vernell was a valuable asset to the Guild Gift Gallery for more than eight years. She was a loyal volunteer, always ready to lend a helping hand anytime, and she was a special friend to all who knew her. She was an active member of Victory Baptist Church and also of South Henderson Pentecostal Church.”

The new gift continues a tradition of the organization’s generous support for education. The volunteer-operated Guild Gift Gallery offers convenience items and gifts as a service to both patients and visitors at the hospital. Profits from sales are used to provide scholarships to people preparing to enter the health care professions.

The new VGCC scholarship will assist deserving students in programs such as Nursing, Radiography, Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology.

“Vance-Granville continues to be grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Guild Gift Gallery,” said Eddie Ferguson, VGCC’s endowment fund director. “We’re honored that we get the opportunity to celebrate the life of Mrs. Champion in this way, by helping students achieve their educational goals for years to come.”

Because the “Vernell Champion/Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Presidential Scholar Award” scholarship is endowed, it will be awarded in perpetuity.

“Mrs. Champion’s legacy of volunteer service will be an inspirational example to students who receive a scholarship in her name, as they prepare to serve in the health care field,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “Thanks to volunteers like Mrs. Champion, the Guild Gift Gallery makes a significant difference in our community by supporting students in their pursuit of rewarding careers.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 scholarships to students since 1982.

Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education.

For more information, please call (252) 738-3409.

News 12/11/19

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Town Talk 12/10/19: Frazier Receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Honored With Luncheon

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

At Monday evening’s Henderson City Council meeting, City Manager Frank Frazier was presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina government’s highest civilian honor.

Since 1963, NC governors have reserved this honor for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Frank Frazier (center), wife Sherri, son Chad & Chad’s fiancé Morgan stand with Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington as Betty Jo Shepheard, a representative from US Senator Richard Burr’s office, presents Frazier with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. (Photo courtesy Steve Cordell)

Persons named to The Order become North Carolina “ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster maintained by The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, along with Betty Jo Shepheard, Senator Richard Burr’s representative, presented an unsuspecting Frazier with the award.

“I was totally surprised and consider it a great honor,” said Frazier, who has been with the City for 35 years. “I was certainly not expecting that!”

In a night dedicated to swearing in newly elected City officials, Frazier, who is set to retire on January 31, 2020, was re-appointed to his position.

Since announcing his retirement plans in July, Frazier has been working with the City Council and Ellington to select a successor. WIZS recently received an update from Ellington that the field has been narrowed down, with an announcement expected soon.

In a continuation of honoring Frazier, WIZS sponsored a luncheon at 11 a.m. today at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

Henderson City Manager Frank Frazier (left) and John Charles Rose with WIZS (right) pictured at the WIZS-hosted luncheon honoring Frazier’s service to the City. The event was held on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at the Vance Country Regional Farmers Market. (WIZS photo)

Frazier said he was surprised yet again by an event held in his honor that included, among others, City and County staff and department heads, law enforcement, fire department officials and media representatives.

As the ongoing support of both entities has made his job possible, it was fitting to have this group in attendance, said Frazier.

“We’ve tried to build a team over the years and work together to get the job done no matter what,” Frazier explained. “No one entity can do it all, and we have to work together. What’s good for the City is good for the County.”

In his remarks, Ellington said Frazier leaves the City in excellent financial condition. “The entire time Frank Frazier has been manager, there has been no tax increase. We are in the best financial shape we’ve been in in the last decade.”

Vance County Commissioner and NC Senate District Three candidate Tommy Hester reiterated comments made on Frazier’s strong work ethic.

“You couldn’t ask for anybody any better than Frank; he is dedicated and from his heart. He works hard and he’s going to be difficult to replace. He’s a true friend to this county and a true friend to Henderson, NC.”

To hear the segment with Frazier in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

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City of Henderson Releases Sanitation Schedule for Christmas, New Year Holidays

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC

The City of Henderson’s sanitation schedule for the Christmas and New Year holidays are as follows:

Christmas week is a recycling collection week.

The schedule will be as follows for Recycling, Bulk Waste and Yard Debris:

Christmas Week

Monday, December 23 – Will collect Monday and Tuesday Routes

Tuesday, December 24 – Holiday, No collection

Wednesday, December 25 – Holiday, No collection

Thursday, December 26 – Will collect Wednesday and Thursday Routes

Friday, December 27 – No Change

 

New Year’s week is a non-recycling collection week.

The schedule will be as follows for Bulk Waste and Yard Debris:

New Year’s Week

Monday, December 30 – No Change

Tuesday, December 31 – Will collect Tuesday and Wednesday Routes

Wednesday, January 1 – Holiday, No collection

Thursday, January 2 – No Change

Friday, January 3 – No Change

Monday, January 6 – Back to normal operations

If you have any questions, please call the Assistant Public Works Director, Lee Owens at (252) 431-0419.

Community Partners of Hope

Men’s Homeless Shelter in Need of Volunteers, Meals for Year’s End

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-Information courtesy Community Partners of Hope

Updates on the Henderson Men’s Homeless Shelter:

Christmas is upon us and we wish you and yours a blessed holy season and much joy in 2020. As you are snug and warm with your family, please remember the men in the men’s shelter and Hope House who need our love and support.

The 2019/2020 season has started out well with lots of different volunteers and some steady friends who volunteer on a regular basis (you are an answer to our prayers).

We’ve been averaging nine men per night with a total of 349 nights of refuge so far! We have served 20 different men – some staying just one night as they pass through Henderson, and some staying for many weeks as they work towards better housing. Three have full-time jobs and nine have some sort of disability. We are glad that we can help those in need.

We will gladly send someone to talk to your church groups if it will help involve more volunteers.

To Volunteer

You can see the shelter’s calendar HERE (use tabs at the bottom to view future months).

Shelter supervisors are needed for the following dates:

Welcome Shift

  • Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) and Saturday, December 28
  • Saturday, January 4 – and most of the rest of January

Overnight Shift

  • Monday, December 23 through Thursday, December 26 – and most of the rest of January

Also, please help us feed our guests!

Meals are scheduled through January 3, but we need a meal for Saturday, January 4 and for most of the month of January.

To volunteer or with questions, contact Jane King, volunteer coordinator, at 252-432-9494.

H-V Rec. & Parks Names New Program Superintendent, Facilities Supervisor

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-Information and photos courtesy the Henderson Vance Facebook page

The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department has named Tara Goolsby as the new Recreation & Parks Program Superintendent, and Tyler Terry as the new Recreation & Parks Facilities Supervisor.

Tara Goolsby – Recreation & Parks Program Superintendent

Goolsby graduated from Warren County High School in 1998. She continued her studies at Winston-Salem State University where she graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Recreation.

In 2011, Goolsby obtained a position with the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Youth Services Unit, returning to the department in 2017 as the Recreation & Parks Facilities Supervisor.

She is married to Lt. JL Goolsby of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and they have two daughters, Mia and Jennifer.

Goolsby enjoys working with the Henderson-Vance community and is excited about her new position.

Tyler Terry – Recreation & Parks Facilities Supervisor

Terry graduated in 1997 from Kerr Vance Academy. She continued her education at Vance-Granville Community College where she received her degree in Criminal Justice and College Transfer. She then transferred to North Carolina State University and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology in 2002 and has spent the last 15 years at Vance County Social Services as a Social Worker.

She is married to Sterling Terry Sr. and they have 2 children, Jayden and Giuliana. Their son has played sports for the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department.

Henderson-Vance Community, please congratulate Tara on her new position and welcome Tyler to our department!

News 12/10/19

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