TownTalk: Christmas Traditions And A Visit From Santa

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You better watch out, you better not cry, you better tune in to WIZS.com, I’m tellin’ you why: Santa Claus was a special guest on Thursday’s TownTalk.

WIZS’s own Steve Lewis and Bill Harris spoke with the Jolly Old Elf himself, and learned, to their great relief, that their names are NOT on this year’s Naughty List.

“I believe you’ll both be very pleased with the outcome on Christmas morning,” Santa reported.

Santa spared a few moments for the phone call, but admitted that there’s still a lot to do to get ready for his global trek Sunday night.

“It’s a very busy time, very busy indeed,” Santa said, followed by the iconic “Ho, Ho, Ho,” which he practiced throughout the interview.

The reindeer, he reports, are “fat and sassy and ready to roll” but he did say that those reindeer stay in shape in the off-season with the help of some capable trainers.

Santa’s got his own personal trainer, too. “I’ve tried to stay as svelte and strong as possible,” he said, but every year he has to go on an eating binge to recapture that classic round holiday profile that makes for such a comfy lap for all the good little girls and boys.

Santa’s Workshop has really outgrown its greater North Pole location, sort of like urban sprawl, so “everything within the Arctic Circle is part of the Christmas world,” he said. With that expansion, the workshop has various CEOs and CFOs who help make things run smoothly. But Santa said he’s still the chairman of the board and president of the whole shebang – after all, he’s got a reputation to uphold.

We in the Northern Hemisphere are used to seeing Santa in his cold-weather duds because Christmas comes during our wintertime. But it’s summertime in the Southern Hemisphere and it’s warm, which presents a wardrobe dilemma for St. Nick.

“I start out with the fur-lined jacket and boots and end up with a rather attractive Aloha shirts, Bermuda shorts and sandals,” Santa explained, which make it “much more comfortable south of the Equator.”

No matter what side of the Equator you call home, Santa has one request:

“I would like to ask everyone to love one another and respect one another…and stay off the Naughty List.”

It’s a tough job to keep the Naughty List updated, and Santa would rather have more names recorded on the Nice List, but it’s a job he and his team are willing to do each year.

He said he’s got a big ol’ pile of coal up at the North Pole, just in case someone needs a gentle reminder.

 

 

TownTalk: Rep. Sossaman Invites Local Youth To Participate In Youth Legislative Assembly

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N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon invites high school students from his district to apply for the N.C. Legislature’s annual Youth Legislative Assembly that will take place in April.

The three-day program is designed to give students an up-close look at how state government functions while fostering the development of essential leadership skills. The 2024 YLA session is April 19-21.

“The Youth Legislative Assembly is an invaluable opportunity for our high school students to actively participate in the democratic process,” Sossamon stated in a press release about the program. “They not only gain a deeper understanding of how our government functions, but also develop the leadership skills necessary to shape a brighter future for North Carolina.”

YLA participants will have the opportunity to engage in mock legislative sessions, debates and committee meetings, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the democratic process. The YLA also allows students to enhance their communication skills, critical thinking abilities and understanding of public policy. By actively participating in the program, students will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to become informed and engaged citizens.

Applications and details about cost, accommodations and more are available online at https://www.ncleg.gov/YLA and should be submitted no later than Jan. 16, 2024.

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TownTalk: No Labels Looking To Be More Than A Spoiler In Presidential Race

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Two North Carolina men are playing key roles in the No Labels movement, a national effort to get a “Unity ticket” on the ballot for President and Vice President in next year’s elections.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, a prominent attorney with ties to Granville County, joined former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory for a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

They’re not ready to name candidates, and there’s a chance that it won’t happen, but No Labels is getting ready, just in case. No Labels is not “in it” to be a spoiler, they explained – they’re in it to win it.

McCrory said he is hopeful to be able to talk more about the process in early 2024, perhaps at or around Super Tuesday in March. “We firmly believe as a team that America deserves a better choice,” he said. “We’re working to have a better choice for them.”

McCrory and Chavis are two of several national co-chairs of No Labels, which was founded in 2010 by former Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman. So far, a No Labels Unity ticket will be on 27 states’ ballots in November 2024.

And Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy said Tuesday the organization is on track to add states in the coming months.

“I’m very proud of my home state of North Carolina,” Chavis said in remarks during the briefing. Chavis said No Labels has made “significant” progress in Blue states, Red states and Purple states to gain ballot access. “North Carolina is getting things done,” he added.

Chavis and McCrory may seem unlikely collaborators whose allegiances have previously been with opposing parties, but Chavis said they’ve become friends. He praised McCrory for being a politician who is “not just reaching across the aisle (but) working across the aisle.”

McCrory said No Labels polling shows that 65 percent of Americans don’t want to vote for either Democratic or Republican frontrunner in the Presidential race.

Clancy said more voters are reporting that they’d consider voting for a Presidential ticket that included a moderate Republican and a moderate Democrat – a blended ticket, which is the crux of the No Labels philosophy.

When asked in February 2022, polls showed 64 million would be willing to consider a blended ticket. More recent polls show that number has risen to 84 million. North Carolina numbers are similar – in March 2022, 32.1 percent of North Carolinians said they’d consider voting for a Unity ticket. In January, that number was 36.8 percent and now it’s at just over 40 percent, Clancy said.

Critics have suggested that a No Labels ticket would serve as a spoiler for the mainline parties’ candidates, but McCrory cited statistics that show 37 percent of N.C. voters are registered Independents, which means more people are registered outside the Republican and Democratic parties.

Clancy, the No Labels chief strategist, likened the No Labels effort for ballot access to people working to build a rocket launchpad. Candidates who comprise the Unity ticket are the ones who must “build the rocket ship to get to the White House.”

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TownTalk: Brandon Link Discusses County Fire Services

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–UPDATED Wednesday, Dec. 20–

It looks like the county’s Public Safety Committee is going to recommend to the full commission that the county fire department be given the green light to purchase needed safety equipment, to the tune of about $70,000.

The committee met Wednesday afternoon and Vance County Firefighters Association President Brandon Link was in attendance. Link told WIZS News that the meeting was “very positive, very fruitful.”

The unanimous decision to move forward with the recommendation to the full board was exactly what Link said he expected to happen. “It’s positive for everybody,” he said of the committee’s action. “Everybody got a win for that…we’re grateful for the outcome.”

The department plans to purchase three sets of turnout gear to replace damaged gear, as well as four new sets of gear that are reaching the end of their 10-year “shelf life.” They also will get new air packs to replace older units that lack the universal connection for buddy breather systems, which would be used to assist firefighters in distress while battling a blaze.

The recommendation is set to go before the full commission for consideration at the Jan. 8, 2024 meeting.

 

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The Vance County Commissioners’ Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. and at least one item up for discussion has gotten the attention of fire services officials whose job it is to keep safe the county’s residents as well as fire personnel.

The commissioners sent to that committee an issue regarding purchase of equipment and turnout gear, which was frozen in the most recent county budget that was passed.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright had requested that the freeze be waived so the department could purchase needed gear, and County Manager Renee Perry presented that request to commissioners at their December meeting, but it was referred to the Public Safety Committee for discussion.

Commissioners are awaiting the results of a fire study that should be released in early 2024, which could result in some changes to how the county’s fire departments are structured.

Brandon Link is president of the county firefighters association and he said getting the best turnout possible is important to protect personnel and employees.

“We order gear every year and it’s considered part of our operating costs,” Link, assistant chief at Watkins Fire Department, said.

Departments like his, he said, are bound by the National Fire Protection Association, to remove and replace turnout gear every 10 years.

The gear is custom fit, and sometimes it takes months for an order to be filled – especially since COVID-19.

“That gear and those air packs – without those, we’re useless,” Link said. “Without that protection, we’re useless.” He said some of the turnout gear is approaching the end of its 10-year lifespan in mid-February.

The commissioners’ next meeting in Jan. 8, so that leaves precious little time to place an order before being out of compliance with NFPA guidelines.

“It should have already been ordered,” Link said.

When a firefighter is injured in the line of duty, Link said his gear is “bagged and tagged” so it may be inspected for its level of protection.

There’s an outer shell, a moisture barrier and then an inner liner – all of which serves a purpose to protect the firefighter who’s wearing it. If any section is compromised, the safety of the firefighter is, too.

“It’s just like a suit (of clothes),” Link said. “You don’t wear a set of turnout gear that’s not custom fit for you when you do your job.”

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The Local Skinny! “Shop With A Cop And Friends” A Success This Holiday Season

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Early-morning shoppers in the vicinity of Walmart Tuesday morning may have noticed a large presence of law enforcement officers, but there was nothing amiss – in fact, Police Chief Marcus Barrow said it was a great day for Shop With A Cop And Friends.

There were plenty of uniformed officers on hand from Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, State Highway Patrol and other agencies to help children choose some toys, clothing items and more, Barrow told WIZS News Tuesday. One of the PD’s lieutenants shucked his uniform and put on a Grinch costume, he added.

“We shopped for 52 kids and nine elderly adults,” Barrow said. In addition to the generous fundraising efforts of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce that netted about $15000, Barrow said some additional donations brought the grand total to just about $20,000.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon, District Attorney Mike Waters, Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale and Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds were just a few of the local leaders who took part in the event.

Newly elected Henderson City Council member Sam Seifert said he helped a 5-year-old named Donna fill up a couple of carts.

“The toy section was a popular one today,” Seifert told WIZS News Tuesday. “We went there first – we had to dodge others on the aisle,” he said, but everyone was good-spirited about it.

“I pointed out things that she might be interested in,” he said. “We filled up two carts and (got) This was his first experience with Shop With A Cop, but he said he heard others remark that they were impressed with the turnout.

Barrow said it was important to add the two words “And Friends” to the “Shop With A Cop” moniker.
“We’ve always had more kids than the police department and sheriff’s office could handle,” he said. “We’ve always done the law enforcement side, and the fire department came along (over) the last couple of years.” Having representatives from the District Attorney’s office, state parks, Parks and Rec and Animal Services has strengthened the community support for the program.

Barrow recalled a special moment from the morning’s activities: “I talked to one of our brand new officers,” Barrow said. “This is his first experience” with Shop With A Cop. “I actually saw him tearing up a little bit.”

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Kerr Tar COG Adds Cynthia Pernell To Finance Staff

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The Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments has selected a Vance County native as its new finance and administrative assistant.

Cynthia Pernell, a Vance County native, is a graduate of Vance-Granville Community College with a double associates degree in Business Administration and Accounting, according to the December issue of the Kerr Tar COG newsletter.

Pernell had worked for the past 11 years as fiscal coordinator at Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, having begun her career in the finance department of Henderson’s Camper Products, where she worked for eight years.

TownTalk: Pack And Ship Deadlines For Christmas

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At this time of year, the folks you see out shopping fall into two camps: Those who sat down to a Thanksgiving meal way back in November, content in the knowledge that the Christmas cards had been addressed and mailed, and gifts for everyone on the list had been purchased, if not already wrapped.

Then there’s that other camp – you know the one…the one where folks are flying around town in search of THE perfect gift, often passing up very nice, suitable gifts in search of THE perfect one.

Whichever camp you find yourself in this holiday season, if you must ship gifts to friends and family, time is running out if you want that gift opened on Dec. 25. In case you’re not looking at a calendar, that’s one week from today.

Mike Moore has watched folks come in to his Postal Plus location in Henderson for 33 years. He and his staff are ready to help you get those boxes weighed, labeled and in the bin for pickup.

Several key deadlines for shipping have already passed, but Moore said shipping packages out today or Tuesday should still be ok for getting those gifts to their destinations by Christmas.

“We can still get it done for you,” Moore said on Monday’s TownTalk.

Monday was the deadline for the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail service, and Tuesday is the “drop-dead” deadline for 3-day guarantee service.

If you’re pushing the envelope, as it were, for shipping, Moore said Dec. 20 – Wednesday – is the deadline for 2-day shipments. And for those champion procrastinators, the 22nd is the last day for next day service – but it’s a service that comes with a price. “You’ll have to pay the overnight fee to get the Saturday delivery,” Moore said.

Of course, Moore also uses shipping giants Fed Ex and UPS, which generally make their pickup rounds about 3 p.m.

Things get a little busy by that time, so if you need extra help getting gifts in shipping boxes or wrapped securely to ensure a safe delivery, Moore said it’s a good idea to come in a little bit earlier in the day.

“We try to make things as easy and stress-free as we can,” Moore said.

“My staff is here ready to help you get it done.”

Visit Postal Plus at 993 S. Beckford Dr., online at https://www.postalplusbizcenter.com/ or phone 252.430.7771 for more information.

 

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NCDOT: Section Of I-85 Near Henderson Renamed Andrea L Harris Highway

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-information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Transportation

A stretch of Interstate 85 is now named in honor of Andrea Harris, the late civil rights activist from North Carolina who devoted her life to racial and social equity and helped many minority and women-owned businesses.

On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper joined state and local dignitaries, and members of the Harris family at a ceremony in Raleigh to dedicate I-85 near the Vance-Warren County line as the “Andrea L Harris Highway.” Harris, 72, died in 2020 after battling an illness. Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon was among those in attendance.

“My friend Andrea Harris fought tirelessly to level the playing field for women and minority owned businesses, particularly in rural North Carolina,” Cooper said at Friday’s ceremony at the North Carolina State Archives Auditorium in Raleigh. “The opportunities she helped create for the diversity that makes us all stronger is a lasting legacy for this amazing pioneer.”

Governor Roy Cooper joined NCDOT leaders and other state and local dignitaries to dedicate a section of Interstate 85 for late civil rights activist Andrea L. Harris. (From left-to-right) are: State Board of Transportation member Valerie Jordan; Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon; Gov. Cooper; Harris’ niece, Alana Harris; NCDOT Deputy Secretary Ebony Pittman; and Church of Faith II Pastor Welton Barnes Sr.

Harris grew up in Henderson during the civil rights movement. In 1986, she co-founded a Durham-based economic development nonprofit that helped develop thousands of women and minority-owned businesses. For more than 25 years, Harris served as president of the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development. Harris and her team provided businesses consulting and other supportive services and helped generate more than $1 billion in awards for minority businesses.

Among her achievements, Harris also helped create the North Carolina Senior Citizens Federation and Gateway Community Development Corporation, which provided resources to elderly and economically disadvantaged people in and around her native Vance County.

“She was passionate about helping others overcome barriers to economic growth and opportunity,” Ebony Pittman, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s deputy secretary for Business Administration, said. “I’m proud that as of today, everyone driving along three miles of Interstate 85 in Vance County will be reminded of the great contributions she had on her community and our state.”

In furthering Harris’ legacy, Cooper established the Andrea Harris Equity Task Force, a group of state leaders and others he appointed to address social, environmental, economic and health disparities in communities of color disproportionally impacted by COVID-19.

Harris, who was born in South Carolina and graduated from Bennett College in Greensboro, served on numerous boards and committees that advanced economic equity and inclusion. She earned a spot in the North Carolina Women’s Hall of Fame and received many awards, including The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is among the most prestigious awards presented by the governor.

Alana Harris is a niece of Andrea Harris. She said having a highway named in her aunt’s honor will help spread her message.

“This highway dedication will be a perpetual reminder to every little black and brown child of their infinite potential,” Alana Harris said. “‘And if there isn’t a seat at the table,’ as my Aunt Andrea would say, ‘Take one anyway.’”