Kerr Lake Park Watch Asks ‘Are the Days of the Park Ranger Numbered?’
Frank Timberlake, lead of public affairs for the Kerr Lake Park Watch (KLPW), was recently on Town Talk to discuss what is, in his and other Park Watch members’ opinion, the troubling trend of the dwindling role of the park ranger position at Kerr Lake.
Timberlake has been with the KLPW for eight years and has seen its ranks grow from six to almost 600 concerned citizens. He said the group’s mission is “to promote, to protect and improve all of the public facilities around Kerr Lake.”
Timberlake believes today’s park rangers are expected to act predominantly as law enforcement officers while ignoring traditional ranger duties such as protecting the environment and educating the public, specifically youth, on preservation efforts.
In documentation provided to WIZS, Timberlake states:
At Kerr Lake, the park rangers for the US Army Corps of Engineers parks still adhere closely to [a] broad range of duties, with only a few designated as full law enforcement officers. The rangers, including the Chief Ranger, wear Federal badges and can issue citations. That may sound mild but be assured those citations land accused violators in Federal court because those parks are on Federal land. Those arrested on the say-so of Corps rangers are hauled before a magistrate or to jail.
In Virginia, the two parks on Kerr Lake have law enforcement officers. There is no “split” in Virginia having parks versus recreation areas; they are all parks. Some current and former Virginia State Parks employees believe that the tilt of the park ranger job is going too far towards law enforcement and leaving behind the resource, the park’s other employees and the visiting public.
The KLPW recently conducted their own 30-day investigation into the role of park ranger and the visiting public’s opinion of ranger responsibilities. The results of this investigation were documented in a five-page report that was sent to the NC Division of State Parks and Recreation in Raleigh.
“One reason we’ve taken it public is that we don’t want to bring this issue out, bring it to the forefront, and then it be swept to the back when something else comes along,” Timberlake said.
Among the findings, the KLPW cites a lack of understanding of ranger roles other than as a law enforcement entity, the public’s unawareness of who the rangers are, a high turnover of rangers at Kerr Lake leading to inconsistency in leadership, the lack of an official park manager role to keep parks organized and a prevailing “that’s not my job” attitude among park officials.
“Part of the problem is that there is nobody assigned to the duty of being a park manager, so to speak,” said Timberlake. “There is nobody to fill in on those interpretive services that were done previously. The park rangers use to take pride in their part. What’s been mutilated in all seven parks is the team spirit.”
Timberlake said part of the KLPW’s proposal to NC State Parks and Recreation included a recommendation that entry stations built at each park in recent years be made the rangers’ offices. “The State of NC spent $250,000 on entry stations that are unmanned most of the time,” Timberlake said. “There is a missed $6 entry fee for every person who drives through. Why not make those booths the park ranger’s office?”
In the report, the KLPW invite the administration to “leave Raleigh and get out to talk with the park – public and employees.”
Timberlake said he was recently told by some of the leadership of NC State Parks and Recreation that the department is taking into consideration several points mentioned in KLPW’s report and that meetings have previously been held to discuss issues related to organizational structure.
While the KLPW finds this encouraging, Timberlake warns that “the wheels of government grind slowly.”
*For more information on the Kerr Lake Park Watch Association, including a more detailed summary of their report on Kerr Lake’s park ranger role, please visit their website at https://kerrlakeparkwatch.org/.
Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market Now Open on Wednesdays!
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is now open on Wednesdays!
You now have two days to shop at the Market – Wednesday & Saturday – 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Wednesdays, there will be produce vendors, craft vendors and a food truck serving breakfast.
Location:
Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Drive, Henderson.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Upcoming Vance Co. Relay for Life Fundraising Events
-Information courtesy Cindy Robinson and Sandra Parham
Upcoming weekend fundraisers for the 2018 Vance County Relay for Life
Friday, June 8 – Plant Sale at Tractor Supply, 1733 Dabney Drive, Henderson, from 9 a.m. – until
Saturday, June 9 – Spaghetti Supper and Quarter Auction at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 210 S. Chestnut St., Henderson. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. – meal at 6 p.m. – auction at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Sunday, June 10 – Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church is presenting a gospel music program at 4 p.m. The “Big Ruin Creek Strivers” will also hold a “Shoe Size Rally,” meaning you donate based on your shoe size. For example, if you wear a size 10 shoe, you give $20. Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church is located at the intersection of Ruin Creek Road and US 158 Business in Henderson.
Henderson Lions Club to Meet Thurs., June 14
-Information courtesy Randy Oxendine, President, Henderson Lions Club
The Henderson Lions Club will meet Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the Henderson Country Club. The Club will install their new officers for the 2018/2019 year.
To learn more or join the Lions and be a part of an active community service organization, contact any Lions Club member or President Randy Oxendine at 252-438-8034.
Spring Street Missionary Baptist Seniors Ready to Cruise
-Information courtesy Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church
The seasoned seniors of Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church in Henderson will host a trip to the Spirit of Norfolk in Norfolk, VA, on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. A limited number of seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
The total cost of the trip, which includes the cruise, an all-you-can-eat luncheon and transportation is $75.
A deposit of at least 50% of the total cost is due no later than Sunday, June 17, 2018. Final payment is due by Friday, July 20, 2018. To guarantee your seat, you must make deposits on time.
For an itinerary and additional information, please call Adrian Davis at (252) 767-1686.
Summer Learning Can Be Simple and Engaging
Written and provided by Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension
You can hear Jean Bell, Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie each M-Th on WIZS at 2:05 p.m. The following script will air Thursday, June 7, 2018.
Summer Learning
Kids work hard during the school year and look forward to summer break. Kids and parents do need down time from schoolwork and projects, but students can lose ground over the summer, forgetting what they learned the previous year. Parents can help prevent this from happening by planning some simple summer activities to help keep kids engaged in learning.
One of the most important activities you can do with your child over the summer school break is to encourage reading. Make reading fun for your child this summer and let your kids know that reading is important. Set a good example by reading together as a family. Let kids know that their parents read for pleasure, and let your kids see you reading. Go to the library or bookstore together and let kids select books on any topic that interests them. Ask the librarian for help in selecting books that are at your child’s reading level. Even if your child is not yet reading on her own, take her to the library and let her select books that interest her, then read them aloud together. If a book is a little above your child’s reading level, but he is interested in the topic, select the book as one that you will read aloud together. Reading aloud together is a wonderful way to let your child know that reading is enjoyable and can spark discussion on new topics and interests between parents and kids.
Talking and listening to kids about what they are reading is a good way to get to know your kids and is a way to encourage learning. Ask your kids questions about what they are reading. Go beyond the easy questions like “What book are you reading?” and ask her about the story and the characters. You could ask your child questions like “Why do you think the character did that? Or What do you think could happen next?” Listen to your child’s ideas about the book. Asking more in-depth questions helps your child think about the meaning of what he reads. Don’t forget about just having talks when you and your child are together. This is a great way to learn about how your child thinks and feels. You might talk in the car when traveling or just at home in the evenings, since there’s no homework to do! Your preschooler has ideas too, and when you talk and listen and sing to your preschool child you also teach your child vocabulary and how language works.
Along with reading, talking and listening to your child, writing is another way your child learns to express himself and learns language. Your child may already be able to write his name and write his ABC’s but that doesn’t mean that he can’t have fun writing. Make writing fun by writing your children of all ages a note, and have them write you a note back. Find a pen pal for an older child. Have kids write your shopping list, then take the list to the store when you shop and have the kids check off the items as you put them in the cart. Kids can even write and illustrate their own comic or short story on anything that interests them. Show your kids how you use writing in everyday life, that writing can be a good creative outlet.
Helping kids continue to learn during the summer does not mean that you have to do worksheets and tests. Just showing your kids that reading is a fun activity will help them to be ready for the next school year.
Economic Development Partnership of NC Manufacturers Event
Shown in the cover photo is Dennis Jarvis, II. He is the director of the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission.
In an email to the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, which was subsequently forwarded to WIZS News, Jarvis explained that The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) is hosting an event for NC manufacturers to learn how state resources can help their business grow.
“Topics include workforce development, customized training, business management, engineering-based improvement, export assistance, and sustainable business practices,” he wrote.
The event will take place Tuesday, June 19 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center from 9 a.m. until noon.
To register, contact:
Joyce Spivey
919.447.7785
Joyce.Spivey@edpnc.com
For more information about the event, contact:
Harry Swendsen
Regional Industry Manager
919.703.5369
Harry.Swendsen@edpnc.com
Vance County Budget 2018-2019 Unanimous Decision
The Vance County budget for 2018-2019 was adopted unanimously at Monday night’s Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting. When all the funds are added up, the budget equals $56,131,498.
“The budget does not include any increase in the general fund tax rate (remains 89 cents per $100 value) and does not include any increase in the water rates. The budget does include an increase of 2 cents in the fire tax rate taking that rate to 6.4 cents per $100. This increase is directly related to increased funding for the departments from the fire tax. The Solid Waste Fee also increased to $112 ($7 increase) per household and is a direct result of rising electronics waste costs,” County Manager Jordan McMillan told WIZS News.
The extra fire tax will help give some relief to volunteer departments across the county who spend countless hours in fundraising mode every year. The Vance County Fire Department will also benefit as explained on page 11 of a 12 page document of budget highlights. It says: “Fire Tax Fund – Fire tax increases to 6.4 cents (2 cent increase) to allow for funding of $100,000 to each of the six volunteer departments and one county department, with two border departments receiving $67,500 each from the fire tax. This is a $39,400 increase for each department from their current level of $60,600 and a $37,200 increase for the border departments.”
The extra solid waste fees will help address the fact that electronics can be disposed of properly in Vance County now, a service that is fairly new and thus the charges incurred by the County are also new.
As McMillan also explained, “With the increased solid waste fee the board did approve opening the NC 39 Hwy North Solid Waste Convenience Site on Sundays from 1-6 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. We anticipate opening it this year by the end of June with subsequent years being between Memorial Day and Labor Day.”
Priorities in the budget are education, public safety and human services which use about 75 percent of the general fund budget.
McMillan added that the budget addresses employee retention and pay by “funding the second and final phase of the salary and classification study, along with a one-time bonus for county employees.”
McMillan emailed WIZS News some additional bullet points about the budget which are listed below.
- The budget works to improve the health of Vance County citizens through increased operational funding for the health department in accordance with a multiyear funding plan established with Granville County and the health department.
- The budget modernizes county information technology assets by moving the tax office software to the cloud, implementing online based job applications, replacing network switches and a storage server, beginning upgrades to Windows 10, and providing for normal PC/monitor replacements.
- The budget advances the county’s efforts to develop sites for economic development, attract investment and create jobs by setting aside a portion of the redistributed sales tax proceeds for the purchase of land.
- The budget invests in education and 21st century learning by providing $1,337,000 in capital to Vance County Schools to support lease payments on teacher devices, to provide matching grant funds for a z-space 3-dimensional learning environment, for ADA compliance upgrades, activity bus replacements and other requested school capital needs.
- The budget addresses funding needs for the volunteer fire departments.
- The budget invests in one-time capital needs by implementing the FY19 CIP (Capital Improvement Plan). The projects include purchasing mobile CAD hardware, a jail intercom and door modernization project, replacing/repairing courthouse seating, replacing courthouse HVAC systems, admin building window replacements, Dennis building wall repairs, and a cardiac monitor purchase for EMS.