WIZS News Special Report: Candidate Filing Period Closes
Broadcast from the Vance County Board of Elections office on WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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TownTalk: ‘Way To GROW!’ Festival Coming To Downtown Henderson
Say you’re organizing an event – complete with food, music and more – and you really want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves. One sure-fire way to make sure the whole community feels invited and welcomed is to get key leaders involved and interested.
Two people who fit that description in the Henderson area are Heather Joi Kenney and Tracy Mosley. They, along with other community partners, are introducing a street festival called Way to GROW! to focus on all aspects of entrepreneurship.
Kenney is president of Gateway CDC and Mosley is director of Helping All People Excel, a local nonprofit whose focus is access, exposure and opportunity for all youth.
They were guests on Thursday’s TownTalk to provide details about the Aug. 12 festival.
Actually, the week leading up to the Aug. 12 event is Entrepreneur Week at Gateway CDC, which is hosting a variety of workshops Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. to share information about becoming a successful, sustainable entrepreneur.
Because of her love for this community, “the beauty of its people and of the downtown area,” Kenney said she applied for – and ultimately received – a grant from NC IDEA, a statewide nonprofit whose mission is to support entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship across the state. The Way to GROW! festival “provides an opportunity for people to be entertained and to shop” among dozens of vendors who are themselves entrepreneurs.
A plus for the vendors is that there’s no fee to participate, she said.
Once she had the grant funding, “Tracy came to mind immediately,” Kenney said, adding that if anyone could make it successful, it was Mosley. “She can make it happen!”
“I’m an event planner – I love events,” Mosley said. “It’s a passion of mine and I love Henderson and the community.”
The plan is to block off Garnett Street between Orange and W. Montgomery streets for the festival. The Breckenridge Street area to Chestnut Street, as well as Wyche Street, also will accommodate pedestrian-only traffic that day.
The idea is to show prospective entrepreneurs that it’s possible to take a passion and turn it into a successful and sustainable business.
It’s one way to create and support the idea of community, Kenney said. “We are responsible for one another…Henderson’s way to grow is collectively.”
Join the fun on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. for food, music, vendors, and more at the Way to GROW! festival in downtown Henderson. The Queens Court of Charlotte, Jim Quick & Coastline, DJ AK and DJ Scoop, along with Chanel Scott of CheMinistry are just some of the groups providing entertainment.
To sign up to volunteer or to become a sponsor, contact Gateway CDC at 252.492.6298.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 07-20-23 Noon
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Two Men In Custody Following Altercation Involving A Gun At Local Medical Clinic
Two men were arrested Wednesday following an incident involving a gun that took place in the parking lot of Vance Family Medicine, but police say there were no injuries as a result of the gunfire.
Anthony Meadows, 22, of the Hicksboro community and Ransom Hawkins, 21, of the Gillburg community were in a physical altercation in the medical clinic’s parking lot, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.
Both men were treated for abrasions and contusions sustained during the fight and they are both in the custody of the Henderson Police Department, pending charges.
The gun was recovered by police.
Further details of the charges and bonds will be forthcoming, Barrow stated.
Hendfact Director Addresses Vance Commissioners
Antelmo Salazar, director of Hendfact Fuerza Activa, addressed the Vance County Board of Commissioners during the public comment section of the July 10 regular monthly meeting.
Through an interpreter, Salazar said in its 14 years of service to the Latino community in the area, Hendfact has helped share information and raise awareness among young people and to their parents.
His appearance before the board was to share some of Hendfact’s goals and to say that the group has seen changes that have helped in the community.
“You have the power and resources to help the Latino community,” he said, adding that there are some laws don’t help Latinos.
“We love this county and we want to be included as well,” Salazar said. He has lived in Vance County 30 years.
Chairwoman Yolanda Feimster thanked Salazar for his comments.
“When we take the opportunity to learn about other cultures and other ethnic groups…we get a lot of information that can be helpful and we can impart information that can be helpful
“We appreciate your input in the community,” Feimster said, adding that she hoped they would continue to contribute to the community.
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Antelmo Salazar, director de Hendfact Fuerza Activa, se dirigió a la Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Vance durante la sección de comentarios públicos de la reunión mensual ordinaria del 10 de julio.
A través de un intérprete, dijo Salazar, en sus 14 años de servicio a la comunidad latina de la zona, Hendfact ha ayudado a compartir información y concienciar a los jóvenes ya sus padres.
Su aparición ante la junta fue para compartir algunos de los objetivos de Hendfact y decir que el grupo ha visto cambios que han ayudado a la comunidad.
“Tienen el poder y los recursos para ayudar a la comunidad latina”, dijo, y agregó que hay algunas leyes que no ayudan a los latinos.
“Amamos este condado y también queremos ser incluidos”, dijo Salazar, notando que ha vivido por 30 años en el condado de Vance .
La presidenta Yolanda Feimster agradeció a Salazar por sus comentarios.
“Cuando aprovechamos la oportunidad de aprender sobre otras culturas y otros grupos étnicos… obtenemos mucha información que puede ser útil y podemos impartir información que puede ser útil
“Agradecemos su aporte a la comunidad”, dijo Feimster, y agregó que esperaba que continuaran contribuyendo a la comunidad.
TownTalk: County Commissioners Adopt Strategic Economic Development Plan
The Vance County Board of Commissioners adopted a strategic plan for economic development at its July 10 meeting that creates a roadmap for future growth over the next few years.
Crystal Morphis, with Creative Economic Development Consulting, walked commissioners through the basic framework of the strategic plan, which she and her team developed over the course of the last year.
Following the presentation, Commissioner Archie Taylor expressed appreciation for the work that went into the plan’s development.
“The easy part is planning – the hard part is doing,” Morphis replied.
As part of the development process, Morphis shared results of a SWOT analysis – the acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – derived from information from almost 100 respondents from across the county.
The plan lists “ordinance enforcement” as a weakness, and, when asked by Commissioner Taylor to explain in greater detail, Morphis said it dealt with appearance and first impressions when a newcomer or prospective business owner visits.
“Code enforcement is so important,” Morphis said, for a community’s beautification and appearance.
Morphis used information and data from the respondents to create a plan tailored to take into account the area’s strengths – interstate access and proximity to urban centers like Raleigh and Durham – while working to address some of the challenges – an unskilled workforce and a lack of available housing, just to name two.
The plan lists five goals and has a three-year implementation timeline that details specific items that need to be achieved over that period:
Goal 1 – Attract, retain and foster start-up businesses
Goal 2 – Make Vance County a choice location
Goal 3 – Attract, develop and retain talent to ensure a strong pipeline for the future
Goal 4 – Strengthen local and regional connections
Goal 5 – Strengthen the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission
During her presentation to the commissioners, Morphis provided information from the respondents on topics such as challenges to growing their business. Some of those challenges include workforce availability, wage growth pressure, workforce training, financing, housing for workforce and finding affordable space to operate a business.
Some of the areas that the respondents wanted to see the county invest more resources in were in attracting new business and retaining existing businesses, and developing amenities like retail, dining and recreation.
Almost half of the respondents – 49 percent – cited personal or hometown connections – to the county as the reason their company is located within Vance County, Morphis noted.
The Kerr-Tar region and the state are seeing a growth in population, but Vance County and its three municipalities all have seen a drop in their overall populations, according to data from the 2010 and 2020 Census. This can also affect the available work force, which also has shrunk in Vance County since 2017, when there was a workforce pool of 17,237 to a November 2022 level of 16,639.
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TownTalk: County Commissioners Hear from Vance Recovery
Vance Recovery is part of the Vance County Substance Abuse Collaborative, a group of providers that work each day to help clients who are battling opioid addiction.
John Mattocks is Vance Recovery’s program director and he spoke on behalf of the county collaborative to Vance County Board of Commissioners during the public comment section of the July 10 meeting.
“We serve 400 people a day burdened by twin epidemics,” Mattocks said, referring to opioid use and overdose.
The individual groups joined forces as a collaborative to try to generate “energy and focus” in light of the risks brought on by opioid use.
“We are ready to serve in whatever capacity would be helpful,” Mattocks told the commissioners.
Vance County is scheduled to receive a share of the $26 billion nationwide opioid settlement and Mattocks said the collaborative stands ready to provide support to county leaders as they determine how and where to spend those funds.
Visit https://www.morseclinics.com/locations/vance-recovery to learn more about the services provided at Vance Recovery.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 07-19-23 Noon
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TownTalk: Commissioners Take Up Fire Services At Board Meeting
Thanks to the wonders of technology, Vance County Board of Commissioners meetings are recorded for the public to play – and, in some cases, replay. WIZS replayed a portion of the July 10 regular monthly meeting during Tuesday’s TownTalk segment, during which the contentious topic of a fire study was discussed.
At its July meeting, the commissioners were expecting to hear from Interim County Manager Scott Elliott about the status of the much-discussed fire study, including staff recommendations that would move forward two of the six bids received from entities interested in completing the work.
Instead, Board Chair Yolanda Feimster invoked her privilege to send to the Public Safety Committee all six bidders for review, after which the committee would make recommendations to the full board at a future meeting.
“So we’re not discussing this tonight?” asked Commissioner Tommy Hester, upon hearing Feimster’s request, who in essence interrupted Elliott as he prepared to make his report to the board.
When Hester asked Feimster the reason for her decision, she replied that she didn’t have to give one. Hester argued that the whole board approved that a study be done, and Commissioner Leo Kelly, Jr. echoed Hester’s sentiments that it should be the board’s decision to make and not the Public Safety Committee.
Hester then made a motion that the whole board consider the fire study, which Commissioner Archie Taylor seconded.
That motion later was withdrawn, however, following discussion by various commissioners – sometimes talking over one another – about how the process should be carried out.
A subsequent motion was made by Hester, seconded by Taylor, to postpone any decision until the August meeting.
Commissioners Hester, Archie Taylor and Leo Kelly, Jr. voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners Dan Brummitt, Sean Alston and Carolyn Faines voted against the motion, giving Feimster, as chair, the tie-breaking vote. The motion failed on her nay vote and the issue of the fire study will be sent to the Public Safety Committee for review.
County staff reviewed the six proposals and recommended two for consideration by the board – the whole board.
But now, the Public Safety Committee will review – again – all six proposals and is expected to make its own recommendation to the commissioners in August.
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The Local Skinny! Brick Power Team Lifts The Spirit Through Weights
The Brick is sponsoring the Henderson Open Championships later this summer, and winners qualify to participate in the World Championships, scheduled for mid-November in Virginia Beach.
The Brick is a weight-lifting ministry affiliated with – and located beside – Freedom Life Church of God on Martin Creek Road. Part of the group’s ministry, according to Harry Orr, is to put on fundraisers like the Henderson Open Championships, which takes place on Sept. 8 and 9.
“We’ve got a good weightlifting team out there,” Orr said of the Brick on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
Orr said his group is hosting the meet for 100% RAW Powerlifting Federation, and classes of events include bench press and curls. Register before Aug. 31 online at https://rawpowerlifting.com/.
Orr, who turns 70 next month, is a hall of famer in the weightlifting world. He said he enjoys seeing others get involved in the sport as well.
“I just love to see people get in it…and have fun with it,” he said. In a world where there are so many bad things people can get tangled up in, it’s good to see people get involved in something positive like powerlifting. “It’s something good for them to do,” he said.
Freedom Life’s pastor, Jeff Prewer, is among the ministry’s biggest supporters, Orr said, having them come before the congregation after big wins.
“We want to serve the Lord the best we can,” Orr said. “People have other methods of doing it – we do it through weightlifting.”
The Brick is located at 1001 Martin Creek Rd.
Weigh-ins are Friday, Sept. 8 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and again on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Lifting begins at 9 a.m.
Weightlifters must present an acceptable form of photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, school ID and passport are acceptable. Work ID badges and recreational/social club ID cards are not acceptable. All participants must show proof of membership in the 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation as well; annual memberships are $40.
Entry fees for the Henderson Open Championships are $65 for bench press, deadlift and strict curl; $75 for push/pull division and $35 for crossover. These fees should be paid, along with completed registration, no later than Saturday, Aug. 31.
Contact Paul Bossi, one of the meet directors, at 252.339.5025 or by email at rawlifting@aol.com to register. Visit https://rawpowerlifting.com/ to find registration documents and rules and regulations.
Contact Orr at 252.432.4196 to learn more about The Brick.
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