Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Visible Changes in Early-Blooming Trees

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On the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report with Michael Ellington:

Today’s show highlights visible changes in early-blooming trees as proof that warm weather is on the horizon. Also mentioned are reminders for exciting upcoming events:

Community Garden Volunteer Form (March 29th, April 11th)

https://go.ncsu.edu/vcrfmgarden

Food Farmacy – A Health and Wellness Event (May 2nd)

https://go.ncsu.edu/foodfarmacy

Vance County Regional Farmers Market Information (Opening Day May 3rd)

https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/vance-county-regional-farmers-market/

Bradford Pear Tree Bounty Program

https://www.treebountync.com/

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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Henderson Police Make Drug Arrest During Call About Suspicious Activity

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— from the Henderson Police Department

On March 14, 2025, officers from the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of South Elizabeth Street in response to reports of suspicious activity. While investigating the situation, officers made contact with an individual, later identified as Qwmaine Knott, who attempted to flee from a vehicle.

During his attempt to escape, Knott was seen discarding a package in his possession. Officers quickly apprehended Knott and recovered the package, which was later determined to contain approximately 6,950 dosage units of suspected heroin.

Following a thorough investigation, Knott was charged with three counts of Trafficking in Opium/Heroin and one count of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for the Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Due to pretrial release conditions, Knott was denied bond and transferred to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

 

The Local Skinny! Aviation Academies at the Henderson-Oxford Airport

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The Henderson-Oxford Airport is one of a dozen airports to get state funding to host summer academies for students in grades K-12 who want to learn more about aviation and the aerospace industry.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation’s Division of Aviation has awarded grants of up to $5,000 for these smaller airports to have programs for young people, according to information from NCDOT.

“We’re thrilled to partner with airports across the state to offer these academies,” said Nick Short, interim director of the NCDOT Division of Aviation. “Not only do students have an incredible time learning about aviation, but they also gain valuable insight into the career opportunities available in this dynamic and growing industry. It’s about sparking curiosity and showing them that the sky really is the limit.”

The academies are designed to engage students in hands-on activities, interactive lessons and behind-the-scenes experiences that bring the aviation industry to life. Participants can look forward to flight simulator sessions, airport tours, aircraft demonstrations and opportunities to connect with aviation professionals who share their passion for the skies. Triangle North Executive Airport in Louisburg is also participating in the summer academy program.

The ACE Academy Grant Program is a key component of the Division of Aviation’s mission to support aerospace and aviation workforce development. By funding these academies, the Division is helping to cultivate a pipeline of skilled professionals who will contribute to the state’s robust aviation sector.

Parents and students interested in participating in this year’s ACE Academies can learn more by visiting the NCDOT web page devoted to the academies, which contains contact information for each.

James N. Brown, Jr., director of Customized Training at Vance-Granville Community College, is the contact person for both local airports. Contact Brown at 252.738.3520 or brownj@vgcc.edu.

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TownTalk: World FlingGolf Tournament Coming to Kerr Lake Country Club

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FlingGolf is a “thing,” and it’s coming to Henderson this weekend.

Exactly what, you may ask, is this thing called fling?

Well, picture, if you will, a lacrosse stick – you know, it’s a long stick with a little basket or cup on one end of it.

Now picture a group of folks, those modified lacrosse sticks in hand, on a golf course. And instead of teeing up the ball in the tee box, the golf ball is nestled in that little cup and gets flung instead of whacked with a driver down the fairway.

Sound interesting? That’s what Johnathan Norton thought when he first started reading about FlingGolf five or so years ago.

It’s been around for a decade or more, but it’s just been in the past few years that the word’s gotten out about this novel sport. And now Henderson has landed the first stop on a national fling golf tour.

Johnathan and his father David Norton were guests on Monday’s TownTalk to talk about the North Carolina Open set for Mar. 29 and 30 at Kerr Lake Country Club. There’s an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start both days, and spectators are welcome. So far, more than 40 people have registered for the tournament, which kicks off the 2025 New Swarm Tour, a 10-tournament series that takes players up and down the East Coast, as well as West Virginia, Missouri and California.

“A lot of the top players will be here,” Johnathan said, including one who lives in Durham, who Johnathan said is the world’s longest flinger with flings of 240 or 250 yards.

According to David, one of the advantages to playing FlingGolf is that no alterations to the golf course are necessary. “You play it just like golf. You just play it like that and have fun with it,” he said.

And players don’t need much equipment, Johnathan said. “One fling stick, one golf ball and you’re good to go.”

Tournament rules state that players have to use the same stick all the way from the tee “fling” to the hole for the entire round; everyday players can choose from among different sticks if they’d like, more like traditional golfers do during a round.

The strategy is quite similar to traditional golf, too, the local FlingGolfers agree. And just like golf clubs, fling sticks are made of different composite materials to accommodate players’ skills and needs.

So when golfers need to “fling” around a dog leg right, they can put a little English on that fling stick and send that ball, hopefully, in the right direction. Ditto with sandtraps and other hazards, same as regular golf.

“There are some people on the tour who are really good at it – I’m still learning,” he said, but “it’s definitely possible…shot-shaping definitely comes into play.”

Visit https://flinggolf.com/pages/wlf to register for the tournament.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Organic Gardens

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On the Vance County Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland:

How the Organic Garden can be grown to provide healthy vegetables for your family.

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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Rebuilding Hope, Inc. Men’s Breakfast Thursdays At 7 AM

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Rebuilding Hope Co-director Tom Wille invites men in the community to a weekly breakfast and devotion time to discuss and reflect a bit on God’s word and how it applies to our daily lives.

“If you are looking for a community to serve in, a community to grown in, a community to be encouraged by, then come hang out with us,” Wille wrote in a recent Rebuilding Hope newsletter.

Come at 7 a.m. on Thursdays for a biscuit – a full breakfast on the first Thursday of the month – and then stay for a devotion and prayer time for various needs across the community.

Volunteers do the cooking and lead the devotion, Wille said.

“We learn as men about things like 1 Timothy 3:2-5 how these attributes can positively affect us and those around us. Proverbs 27:17 shows how we can encourage each other through positive relationships,” he said.

There’s time for prayer – prayer for individual needs, as well as needs for the ministry and for the larger community. Prayers are offered for other ministries that serve their communities in particular ways, from food and shelter to worship and counseling

“While our main focus is to point people to Jesus through maintenance construction, we also understand the need to support each other and the other groups in our area that point people to Christ through their focus of ministry,” Wille said. “Each of these places is important.”
If you’d like to support Rebuilding Hope, Inc. with a financial contribution, there’s an online link to make a secure payment. Visit www.rebuildinghopeinc.org and click on the Donate button at the top of the page. There’s an option to donate to General Ministry for daily operations, SOS (Servants on Site) to pay registration fees or to contribute to the summer mission camp and Memorial to make a gift in remembrance of someone.

 

41st Annual VGCC Golf Tournament Set To Tee Off May 5,6

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The 41st annual Vance-Granville Community College Foundation’s Golf Tournament for Scholarships is set for Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6 at the Henderson Country Club.

The four-member team Super Ball tournament begins with lunch and registration at 11:30 a.m. and shotgun start at 1 p.m., according to information from Sheri Jones, The VGCC Foundation’s associate director.

Find registration forms and sponsorship information here:

The VGCC Foundation Golf Tournament – Vance Granville Community College.

The golf tournament is one of VGCC’S primary fundraisers for The Foundation. Money raised will be used for scholarships to help eligible students with the cost of tuition and books, as well as emergency grants.

The golf tournament provides resources for the College to remove barriers in order to enhance and expand its efforts to address need-based aid for students and promote equitable outcomes for all learners.

Sponsors, please note that payment must be received to guarantee your sponsorship. Please make checks payable to The VGCC Foundation. Online payments can be made at The VGCC Foundation Online Gifts Page.

For more information, contact foundation@vgcc.edu.

NC Forest Service

N.C. Forest Service: Statewide Open Burning Ban In Effect Until Further Notice

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A statewide open burning ban is currently in effect, and the N.C. Forest Service has cancelled all burning permits until further notice because of the increased risk of wildfires.

The ban prohibits all open burning in all 100 counties, even if a permit previously had been issued. New permits will not be granted until the ban is lifted. Anyone who violates the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs and anyone responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire, according to information from the N.C. Forest Service.

Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.

Although the burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, local fire marshals have the authority to suspend permits for those fires as well. Earlier Friday, WIZS News received information from Warren County Fire Marshal Greg Henry and Franklin County Fire Marshal Trey Evans stating that all burn permits issued for open burns within 100 feet of a residence also are suspended for as long as the state burning ban is in effect.

“It is spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With these ongoing conditions, a statewide burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of wildfires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state. It is imperative that folks adhere to this burn ban until further notice.”

The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions.

Contact your county’s fire marshal or N.C. Forest Service ranger for more information

 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is open burning? 

A: Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.

Q: May I still use my grill or barbecue? 

A: Yes, if no other local ordinances prohibit their use.

Q: How should I report a wildfire? 

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

Q: How should I report a person who intentionally starts a wildfire? 

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

Q: My local fire marshal has also issued a burn ban for my county. What does this mean?

A: The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. If a fire within a 100-foot area of a dwelling escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

Q: Are there other instances which impact open burning?

A: Local ordinances and air quality regulations may impact open burning. For instance, outdoor burning is prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Learn more about air quality forecasts at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-qualityoutreach-education/air-quality-forecasts.

Q: Can I have a campfire when I go camping? 

A: Campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food while camping.

Q: What can I do to protect my house against the risk of wildfire?

A: Learn about wildfire risk assessments and preparedness and prevention plans on the N.C. Forest Service website at https://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_wui.htm or https://www.resistwildfirenc.org/.