TownTalk: Recovery Alive Receives Opioid Settlement Money

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Tisha Temple, the founder and CEO of Recovery Alive Homes, has a passion for helping people struggling with opioid use disorder. She once struggled with it herself, and has been free from its grip for 11 years now.

Temple’s nonprofit was one of two groups to get grants from the city of Henderson in its initial disbursement of opioid settlement money.

The Henderson City Council granted RA Homes $50,000 to set up two residential sober-living homes here – and Temple can’t wait until the project is up and running.

“The money is there because people are losing their lives to opioid use disorder,” she explained on Thursday’s TownTalk.

“When we have funding to be able to create solutions in communities to give people a different pathway and to help them find recovery, the best thing to do is not leave the money sitting in the bank – the best thing to do is distribute it,” she said.

There are eight RA Homes in operation now, Temple said. She’s working with a local realtor to identify properties and then will work with an investor to purchase the homes, one for men and one for women who are already in recovery.

“That is how our model works,” she said. “We lease the properties from management teams. We are truly part of beautiful community solutions. We are good neighbors.”

She’s got her eyes on one property already, and hopes it’ll work out. If not, she said she “will patiently wait for God to open the right doors.”

Locating sober-living homes here in Henderson has special meaning for Temple. It wasn’t that long ago that she herself was regaining control of her life in a similar residential program in Raleigh.

At the time, fresh out of prison, Temple got the chance to enter a recovery treatment program and ultimately into a sober-living home.

The residential program that she created with RA Homes, however, has one important component that the one in Raleigh didn’t.

“That recovery home saved my life…(but) it wasn’t Christ-centered. It worked, but I believe that my recovery grew deeper because I was able to have a relationship with Jesus. That was my recovery,” Temple said.

And now, some years later, Temple is gearing up to plant two new RA Homes in her hometown. “It is now time to open recover alive homes in the same community where I did not have the resources that I needed to get better and stay better,” she said.

RA Homes and the 12-step, Christ-centered program will be here to help somebody else’s son or daughter as they embark on a journey of sober living.

Visit www.wizs.com to listen back to the complete interview.

 

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The Local Skinny! Council Members Host Community Forum

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Three of the four incumbent City Council members running for re-election were present at a community forum Wednesday evening at Holy Temple Church in Henderson.

Ola Thorpe-Cooper, Garry Daeke and Lamont Noel were in attendance; the other incumbent, Sara Coffey, was not feeling well, and was not present.

The three incumbents spoke about the importance of the upcoming municipal election, and then entertained questions from the audience.

Thorpe-Cooper started things off, saying, “We care about you and your concerns in the city of Henderson – not the ward you live in, but the city of Henderson.”

“We are running for re-election – not because it’s easy, but because we care. Experienced leadership still matters. Let’s not trade progress for…promises.”

She said the Council works together to get things done.

“I don’t believe it’s about me, it’s about us,” Thorpe-Cooper said. “We sit together, we talk together, we pray together. We are here with a record of standing up…when it hasn’t been easy to stand up. Showing up when it matters and getting real results.”

Noel said he decided to run for a seat on the City Council so he could be a voice for residents who may not know how or to whom to address complaints or concerns.

He ended up writing a city ordinance – before he was on the Council – to address one such issue that he had involving driving golf cars on city streets. The police chief at the time took it to council and said he’d never had a citizen come to him with a problem AND a solution.

Shortly after that, Noel said people approached him to run for City Council.

“I realized that I had an opportunity to be a voice for those people that couldn’t speak for themselves.”

“We have to love Henderson,” he said. “What we go through, we wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t have a love for Henderson. We want the best for Henderson and that’s why we’re here.”

Daeke grew up in Henderson, went to college, got a degree and came back because he wanted to serve his community.

“I came back to this town because I loved it,” he said.

He spent time on the city’s zoning board, planning board and downtown development commission and then felt he had the experience and knowledge to run for City Council.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it – it’s work – very hard work. but great work.”

“We’ve hit a wall lately and we need to get beyond that,” he said.

Affordable housing is the city’s biggest project, and he said being a member of the Council is like being a part of a team  – working on a team  and seeing what you can accomplish when you work together.

When you go to the polls, he said, “think about my service when you’re voting.”

The non-partisan municipal elections are Tuesday, Oct. 7.

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New Principals At STEM Early High, Dabney Elementary

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— information courtesy of Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools has named new principals for STEM Early High and Dabney Elementary as the 2025-26 school year approaches.

Jessica Austin is the principal of STEM Early High and Dr. Miah Hart-Olivis is principal at Dabney Elementary, according to information from Aarika Sandlin, VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support.

Austin, most recently the Math Teacher Development specialist for Vance County High School and Vance County Early College, has more than 20 years’ experience as a teacher and administrator. She is a former principal with Durham Public Schools.

Austin has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s of Education in school administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing a doctorate at UNC-G.

Hart-Olivis, most recently a human resources recruiter, also brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role. She has worked in Durham County Schools and Chatham County Schools. Hart-Olivis earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching from Hampton University and has a doctorate in educational leadership from High Point University.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Bedtime Problems pt.2

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We continue our series on working with children with bedtime problems. This time we discuss how to prepare a child for bedtime and a routine to go through.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: Community Day with Turning Point CDC

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Saturday’s Community Day at Turning Point CDC checks all the boxes for families and others who are looking to learn more about resources available in the area, but Executive Director Chalis Henderson predicts the vibe will be closer to a family reunion than anything else.

“It’s a day of networking, a day of fun and fellowship and certainly excitement as we see the different vendors out there,” Henderson said. “It’s just good times.”

More than 40 vendors are expected to be on hand to share information and network with folks who live in their sphere of influence, from the local cooperative extension to the new charter school, The Sledge Institute.

All the vendors are asked to bring some school supplies to donate, which will be distributed during the event.

“We expect everyone to leave with plenty,” she said, whether it’s food, school supplies or increased knowledge and awareness of how to access resources in the area.

“Community Day is beneficial not only for the community members,” Henderson said, “but for the vendors and partners to connect…we can all come together and get what we need on this day.”

The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Turning Point CDC campus, located at 2495 U.S. 1/158 in Henderson.

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“We’re big on networking, building partnerships and bridges,” Henderson said, adding that there are greater outcomes for the larger community when partnerships are formed.

With so many vendors and other activities going on throughout the day, Henderson said another community partner, NC Idea, is working it out so that each vendor will have a couple of minutes with a microphone to explain what they do and services they provide.

So even if you can’t visit each table, tent or booth, Henderson said if you’re within earshot, you’ll have a better idea of exactly what services are available and how to access them.

Turning Point CDC is an offshoot of Oasis of Hope Ministries, which Henderson’s parents established almost 25 years ago.

By empowering people, communities can be transformed, she said. Whoever visits the campus can see in action a thriving preschool, after-school program, food pantry and summer learning activities.

“There’s always some form of ministry or outreach taking place,” she said. “It’s a blessing to have a space that provides those opportunities…every single thing on our campus has a purpose to it and it’s designed with great intention.”

Visit https://www.turningpointcdc.org/ to learn more.

City Of Henderson Awarded $10.7M For Water Projects

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The City of Henderson is getting $10.7 million from the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund for its Sandy Creek Pump Station and Force Main projects.

The announcement came last week, when Gov. Josh Stein and the Department of Environmental Quality said that 48 projects in 27 counties would receive more than $204 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The awards will improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, address PFAS and other forever chemicals, identify and replace lead pipes and improve resiliency after future storms, according to information on the DEQ website.

“When you turn on the faucet in your home, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether that water is safe for your family,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These investments will help ensure North Carolinians have access to clean drinking water and will help keep people safe when disaster strikes.”

“At DEQ, we’re committed to ensuring everyone in North Carolina has access to clean water,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “This funding will address aging infrastructure and improve public health for communities large and small.”

The town of Warrenton also is set to receive $10 million for its Phase IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements project.

Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament Set For Thursday, Oct. 2 At Kerr Lake Country Club

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The 27th annual Chamber Challenge golf tournament is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 and now’s the time to register – the deadline is Sept. 22, but Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson said not to wait too long – the spots fill up fast!

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce and Presenting Sponsor Margier White-State Farm Insurance invite you to join us in making this event a fun and successful fundraiser at Kerr Lake Country Club.

The Chamber is seeking sponsors and donations for golfers’ gift bags as well as players for the tournament. It will be a day full of fun, food, golf and networking.

Here’s the link to the registration page, which contains information about sponsorship levels and more:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ogbl&pli=1#inbox/WhctKLbfNwzVWKRhkLZpzMMRpBHKgfMrDQGtdbJFSkqWTvPsNnzdDTgrPpmbqJzcQDwkHdV?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

TownTalk: KARTS FLEX Ride Is Right On Schedule

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In its first two months of operation, the KARTS FLEX Ride van is living up to expectations. KARTS officials say the goal is to increase ridership with each month of operation – so far, so good.

KARTS Executive Director Randy Cantor said the program is “going really well.”

Finance Manager Tonya Moore has the data to back up that sentiment – in June, the first month of operation for the Uber-style transit that operates within the city limits of Henderson – there were 242 riders. July isn’t even over yet, and ridership is at 253 and counting, Moore said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. She and Cantor discussed the new transportation opportunity available from KARTS.

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State and federal dollars are paying for the first three years of the micro transit. KARTS is one of a growing number of transportation agencies getting funds to establish micro transit programs.

“The goal is to increase every month,” Moore said. New passengers, not necessarily the same individuals who use the KARTS van service, are taking advantage of the new, streamlined system.

The door-to-door service helps people get to and from work, to doctor’s appointments or anywhere else within the city limits. Riders can book online, with an app on their phone or simply call the KARTS office to schedule transportation.

And the on-demand service can pick you up within 30 minutes.

“We’re keeping statistics,” Cantor said. “All of our trips have been 100 percent on-time performance. And there have been relatively few no-shows. There’s one vehicle in service now, but a second is available as demands for the service rise. And there’s a third vehicle that can be easily changed from a KARTS van to a FLEX Ride van, he said.

Each trip is $6, and the driver accepts cash, but KARTS said the process is much more streamlined if you pay by card or set up an account that automatically deducts the cost of the trip.

“The majority are scheduling on the app,” Moore said. “That’s exactly what we wanted to see – it streamlines the process for everyone involved.”

Both Cantor and Moore said they believe that ridership will increase further once the weather cools off.

“When it’s extremely hot, when it’s rainy, extremely cold, cancellations increase,” Moore said.

“People don’t want to get out in non-desirable weather.”

Visit https://www.kartsnc.com/ to learn more.