WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 02-04-25 Noon
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NC Community Foundation Scholarship Info
The North Carolina Community Foundation administers nearly 140 college scholarships totaling close to $1.8 million. Most of the applications are open until Mar. 3 for students looking for ways to help pay for college.
There is no cost to apply and students can apply online using NCCF’s Universal Scholarships Application, which matches student information with criteria for about 130 scholarships for which they may be eligible.
There are a dozen or so other NCCF scholarships that have separate applications with different due dates. Students should review the criteria for those and follow instructions on how to apply.
All scholarships are established through endowment funds at NCCF with criteria determined by the donor. In 2024, NCCF awarded almost $1.5 million in scholarships to 360 students.
Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Scholarships for detailed application instructions.
Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe: 4-H Events Happening in the Spring
On Vance County Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe:
The Dinah Gore 4-H Healthy Food Challenge is happening in March. Vance County will take on other teams from other counties in the State. This is a perfect opportunity for kids to showcase their culinary skills.
There will be a Game of Drones Competition in April! Kids have been working on their drones using block code.
Family STEM Night will happen on March 20th at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market from 6pm-8pm. It’s going to be an interactive hands-on evening full of STEM activities for the whole family.
Calling All Teachers! The 4-H Science Embryology Program sign-ups are now open. It’s an opportunity for your students to learn about the life-cycle of chicks. Spot are limited.
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536.
The Vance County Cooperative Extension Offices are located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536.
For any questions or to reach out to Micah Sharpe you can contact (252) 438-8188 or mosharpe@ncsu.edu
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VCHS Band Director Jaron Cox To Take Conductor Role In 3rd Annual Community Youth Honor Band
— information courtesy of Vance County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College
More than 100 of the region’s best young musicians will show off their skills at the 3rd annual Community Youth Honor Band Concert, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7 at the VGCC Civic Center.
The concert, which is free and open to the public. begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Campus Civic Center in Henderson. All family, friends and community members are encouraged to come support these talented students and the schools they represent.
Jaron Cox, a founding member of the honor band event, will lead the intermediate group – the Green Honor Band. Cox is the band director at Vance County High School. VGCC music instructor Brian D. Miller will lead the advanced group, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.
Middle and high school students representing schools throughout VGCC’s four-county service area were nominated by their respective band directors for their musical talent and passion. They will gather for the first time to rehearse on Thursday, Feb. 6, reconvene Friday morning, and present a concert that evening.
The student musicians will learn new songs especially for this event. Music selections had not yet been finalized at the time of publication, but event organizers offered a preview of what songs attendees might hear: “Ballad for Peace,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Ready the Castle” (JaRod Hall), and “Shadow Fire” (Randall D. Standridge), among others.
Cox said he is honored to lead this talented group of students. “The opportunity to conduct the Green Honor Band is a privilege,” said Cox. “This concert brings together young musicians from across the region to showcase their talents, and I look forward to helping them create a memorable performance.”
The Community Youth Honor Band includes middle and high school students from Granville, Vance, Warren and Franklin counties. It offers a special opportunity for students to collaborate with peers from other schools and perform in a large concert band. The preparation begins the day prior to the performance, with students rehearsing intensively for the big event.
Last year’s concert featured 95 students—45 from middle schools and 50 from high schools—performing before an audience of more than 300 in the VGCC Civic Center. This year promises to be another exciting display of musical growth and community spirit.
Cox also expressed gratitude for the continued support of the event by Betsy Henderson, VGCC Department Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities, Dr. Thomas Koinis, MD, FAAFP, VGCC Community Band member, and Tiffany Stone of Hill’s Music, aas well as Miller, who also is director of the Community Band.
This event was planned by a committee comprised of VGCC representatives, area band directors and school administrators, local business owners, and other community members. To learn more about the band or Fine Arts programs at Vance-Granville, contact department chair Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.
TownTalk: The Mission Of Rebuilding Hope, Inc.
For Tom Wille, the message and mission of Rebuilding Hope is simple: The book of Acts calls upon Christians to be the witness in Jerusalem, and to spread the Gospel message.
“Here we are, working in our Jerusalem,” Wille said on Monday’s TownTalk.
As co-director for the past couple of years, Wille said he has witnessed acts of good service to residents in Vance County and beyond. When Rebuilding Hope teams venture out to repair a roof or build a ramp, he said, it changes people’s lives. Ramps make daily living easier to get people in and out of their homes, but that simple act of constructing a ramp also shows them the love of Christ, Wille said.
In 2024, teams installed 205 ramps in homes across five counties. Add to that 16 roofs and a bunch of deck and porch repairs, and Rebuilding Hope is really showing up for their neighbors in need.
“Most of us are retired from our secular jobs,” Wille said. “We’re just out here working in the name of Christ.” From recruiting new volunteers and managing construction teams to making sure materials are ordered and delivered on time, Wille said he and founder and co-director Randolph Wilson try to keep things humming along.
There are several local companies that send out teams to volunteer regularly to help with projects, but there’s always room for more, Wille said. Churches that want to form teams to help others in their congregations are welcome to participate, too.
“Their constituents have needs,” he said. Churches can form volunteer teams and Rebuilding Hope can supply the lumber, a tool trailer and whatever else may be needed to help the church serve its own members in need.
“It’s a wonderful thing when a local church serves its own congregation because they’re seeing how the family of Christ should work,” he said.
The office, located at 414 Raleigh Rd., is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 252.438.5132 or visit rebuildinghopeinc.org to learn more.
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TownTalk: Commissioners Hold Retreat
UPDATED: 2 p.m. February 4
The Vance County Board of Commissioners and county staff spent Friday, Jan. 31 at a planning retreat to discuss a wide range of issues, ranging from conditions and maintenance needs at the county detention center and creation of a possible emergency services complex to changing the property tax revaluation cycle and next steps in filling the District 3 vacancy.
Instead of holding a special called meeting to discuss the potential appointees, the commissioners opted to use the scheduled Feb. 17 work session to possibly choose the person who will fill the District 3 seat, previously held by Sean Alston. The work session is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
County Manager C. Renee Perry said although five individuals had submitted their names for consideration, only four remain in contention:
- Joseph Doyle Carpunky
- Charisse Fain
- Jeanette B. Floyd
- Charles Turrentine, Jr.
Former District 3 Commissioner Gordon Wilder had submitted his name for consideration, but he is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. To be considered, individuals must be affiliated with the same party as the person who vacated the seat. Sean Alston, a Democrat, resigned his seat in January.
The retreat took place in the commissioners’ meeting room, and the first agenda item was capital improvements – specifically the jail, EMS/Fire Main Station, EMS substation and the commissioners meeting room.
Among those speaking to commissioners were Sheriff Curtis Brame and Major William Mitchell, who shared information needed maintenance and repairs and answered questions about existing conditions at a facility that was described as having a “history of neglect.”
Brame and Mitchell had plenty of examples about conditions at the jail, from broken doors to antiquated monitoring systems.
Jail staff got a quote of $85,000 to rehang brand-new heavy steel doors on big, heavy steel hinges that inmates managed to dismantle in less than a minute.
“It took less than 30 seconds – they wedged broom handles behind the hinges until they were sprung,” Mitchell explained. This is not a repair job that the current maintenance staff can complete without help, he continued.
County Manager C. Renee Perry said she intended to ask commissioners to consider a plan for jail maintenance at their February meeting, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3.
Commissioners also discussed a second possible site for an EMS substation in the northern part of the county. Perry said she would provide information at the Feb. 3 meeting for commissioners to consider. The board previously had agreed to pursue another tract, but a couple of commissioners expressed concern about the slope of the property. This second tract is 6.5 acres and significantly flatter, according to Frankie Nobles, special projects coordinator.
After a lunch break, the commissioners discussed pros and cons of the current tax revaluation cycle.
Vance County is one of 30 counties across the state that uses an eight-year cycle.
Warren County uses the 8-year cycle; Franklin and Granville counties are on 6-year cycles; Halifax, Lee and Person counties are on 4-year cycles.
Commissioners expressed concern about the cost of more frequent revaluations and the financial feasibility of using in-house staff to complete the reval process instead of hiring outside contractors.
As for progress being made in using the close to $2 million in opioid settlement funds that the county has received so far, commissioners would like to reconvene a meeting of community stakeholders, from county leaders to mental health experts, public health staff, DSS, law enforcement and others to gather input about how to spend the money.
So far, the county has disbursed zero dollars, according to Special Projects Coordinator Frankie Nobles.
Perry said she would work to convene a meeting of stakeholders in March.
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(Original version posted February 3, 2025)
The Local Skinny! Missing Woman’s Remains Found
— courtesy of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page
“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigations, and with the assistance of the Youngsville Rescue Dive Team, executed searches in Vance County on 1/30/2025. During the search, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office, where they have been identified as the remains of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her disappearance and death are continuing to be investigated. No other information will be released at this time. We would like to thank Sheriff Curtis Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.”
— courtesy of the NC State Bureau of Investigation
“In January 2024, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) regarding a missing person case from 2023. Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on November 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, NC. On January 30, 2025, the Warren County Sheriff’s office, the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the Youngsville Rescue and EMS Dive Team, and the SBI executed searches in Vance County. While conducting a search in a pond near Henderson, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for identification. Those remains were identified as those of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her family has been notified, and the investigation continues. No further details are available at this time.”
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The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Begins ER Renovation Project
In just about one month, the anticipated $5 million renovation project will begin at Maria Parham Health to enhance the Emergency Department’s ability to provide high-quality care, with special consideration for patients with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
The start date for Phase One is Mar. 3, and hospital officials are ready.
“We are excited to begin this critical renovation that will allow us to enhance patient care and improve outcomes for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Bert Beard, MPH chief executive officer.
During Phase One, the front half of the Emergency Department will be temporarily closed to both patients and staff. This phase should take about 16 weeks, during which all patients destined for the emergency room who arrive by their own means will go to the main entrance for registration, triage and care. Emergency Medical Services entry will be unchanged throughout the project, according to information from MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young.
Beard said the new spaces created during the renovation will allow hospital staff to provide “a unique care environment for those facing behavioral health crises, which is essential for promoting overall health and well-being in our community” while protecting care team members from harm. Beard said violence on healthcare personnel is of growing concern across the industry.
The renovation will provide much-needed designated spaces within the Emergency Department specifically designed to treat behavioral health and mental health patients. This new design will create safer, more effective care environments for these individuals, staff and visitors, reducing the risk of incidents while also increasing the efficiency of the ED.
The project is funded through the Granville-Vance Public Health Department through a partnership with the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville-Vance County Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the N.C. General Assembly.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 02-03-25 Noon
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
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Michael Easley, Jr. Stepping Down From U.S. Attorney Eastern District Office
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., will step down as attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina on Monday, Feb. 3.
Easley was nominated for the post in 2021 by President Joe Biden and, following Senate confirmation, he was sworn in on Nov. 26, 2021.
In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, Easley said, “It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home.” The press release did not contain details of Easley’s future plans.
Easley focused on driving down violent crime, white-collar prosecutions, protection of civil rights, and stemming the tide of narcotics into communities across the Eastern District. “We did it through partnering, shoulder to shoulder, with local law enforcement and community leaders to solve our region’s most challenging problems,” he stated, adding that he appreciates prosecutors, judges, law enforcement and staff “who give so much to see justice done every day.”
As the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the 44-county Eastern District that includes Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, Easley has overseen a staff of 119 employees, including 58 attorneys and 61 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Throughout his term, Easley and his office have provided information to WIZS News about local cases, and he has even spoken with us as well. Over the years, he has praised the efforts of local law enforcement agencies and said they follow up and do what they say they are going to do.
In a January 2024 TownTalk program on human trafficking, Easley said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame are “reliable partners” and said they both are in his speed dial. He called District Attorney Mike Waters “one of the most forward-leaning prosecutors” he knows. “He’s an incredible partner and somebody I count on to help unravel these cases.”
In an interview Wednesday afternoon with WIZS, Barrow was equally complimentary of Easley, calling him and his office a “great partner” with local law enforcement. “He was easy to talk to…to communicate with. He had our back here (and) has helped us rid Henderson of a lot of violent offenders.”
In an August 2023 interview with WIZS, Barrow said some members of the local police department serve on different federal task forces of the DEA, ATF and the FBI, which provides a path for some cases to be tried in federal court.
“We truly did a big investment into the federal program,” Barrow explained. With input from local district attorneys to decide which cases – usually involving guns and drugs – should go to federal court, Barrow said the trials and sentencing can happen in a “pretty swift” manner.
The main thing, he said, is that “they are removed from our community – they are the worst of the worst.”
Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel of the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, said “U.S. Attorney Easley is the kind of partner every sheriff hopes for – sharp, decisive, and committed to results. He didn’t just talk about law enforcement partnerships; he made them real, partnering with sheriffs for solutions and backing them up with action. Under his leadership, we made real progress— violent crime down, overdose deaths falling, and tighter collaboration. Easley set a new gold standard for what it means to lead in federal law enforcement.”
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(The story text above was originally posted to WIZS.com on 1-29-25 at 7 p.m.)