“Drive-In Movie Massacre” to Film At Local Legendary Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre

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Wanna be in a movie? Wanna have a part in making a movie? Folks in the Henderson area will have their chance soon, because Bill DiNicola is looking for locals to be a part of Drive-In Movie Massacre, a comedy/horror slasher film that is going to be shot on location at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre.

And one thing he says for sure: the world premiere of the movie will be held right here in Henderson, at the iconic drive-in.

DiNicola, who got his start right here at WIZS, has moved to television and movie production, and he can’t wait to start filming. He said filming should begin in August or September of this year, and the final product is scheduled to be ready by September 2026. He’s formed a film company, ColaNatio Films, and he hopes this is just the beginning of having movies filmed in Vance County

He’s always been a big fan of horror movies, and his work in pre-production is what helped him get to this point in his career – creating a feature-length film.

Well, not Tom Cruise-Mission Impossible length feature film, but he said on Monday’s TownTalk that, with credits, the movie will be close to 90 minutes.

DiNicola said you need three things to make a movie – “a camera, a place to shoot and a story that people might be interested in.”

Camera, check. A place to shoot – the iconic drive-in in Henderson, check. And the story that people will be interested in. Check.

The script is about 54 pages in so far, and needs to be 80 pages or so. But it’s at the point where DiNicola is seeking funding for the project.

And a little star power.

He said he’s got local newsman-turned celebrity Mark Roberts on board for the project, as well as a “soft commitment” from Darcy the Mail Girl, who’s known in the horror/comedy genre.

The movie is a movie within a movie, DiNicola said – “It’s a slasher movie about people going to the movies to watch a movie about people going to the movie and getting massacred.”

And in the case of this movie, people are coming to the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre to see the movie.

“When you have an asset like that and you find out that people are interested in it and want to make it happen,” it’s a natural fit.

DiNicola said he sees Vance County as a great place to make movies, from the drive-in to Kerr Lake and more.

“What I really want to do,” he said, “is make movies in Vance County,” where he spent so much time as a child. “The woods, Kerr Lake…everything (is) kind of rolled into one In Vance County. The only thing you don’t have is film crews working in Vance County.”

He wants to change that.

Contact DiNicola at colanatio@gmail.com, 252.432.2235 or find him on Facebook.

 

 

 

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City Utility Customers’ Water Meters Being Read Again Following Cyber “Event”

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UPDATED May 27, 2025 at 6:30 P.M.

Henderson’s utility customers have gotten a notification about water meters being read again in the wake of what city officials are calling a cyber “event” that created a massive disruption in the billing process.

“We would like to inform our utility customers that we have begun reading meters for the first billing cycle to be processed since the cyber event,” the notice stated.

It’s a good first step toward returning to normal since the city got hit by a cyber attack that affected the way it generates bills for utilities customers. Another bit of good news: customers who had their bills set up on bank draft should see that draft process resume, unless the customer has requested to have their account removed from the bank draft option, according to information from the city’s Customer Service Director Sharon “Shay” Bennett.

The city normally processes three billing cycles per month and bills are normally mailed on the 10th, 20th and 30th of each month depending on the customer’s service address.

The next bill customers receive will include usage from the meter’s previous reading prior to the cyber event through the date the meter is read over the next month.

“We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to recover from this issue,” the notification read.

Although the city was unable to issue bills for several months following the time the problem was discovered, it was recommended that customers continue to pay their bills based on their last billing statement and to keep receipts for payments made until the system was back on line.

Clarke Elementary Principal Dr. C’Monee’ Wilkins Named NCAE’s 2025 Principal Of The Year

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Clarke Elementary School Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins has been named 2025 Principal of the Year by the N.C. Association of Educators.

This distinguished award honors outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to student and staff success and steadfast support for public education.

Wilkins has more than a decade of experience in education. She was selected following an interview process led by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators Board, who chose her for her strong instructional leadership, innovative approaches and dedicated advocacy for educational equity, according to information from NCAE Press Secretary Adrian Ezell.

NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly said, “We are honored to name Dr. Wilkins as our Principal of the Year. Her transformative work is a powerful reminder of the impact strong educational leadership can have on a school community. We are proud of all she has accomplished and excited to see what she will do next.”

Under Wilkins’s leadership, Clarke Elementary has seen remarkable gains. The school’s overall performance grade has improved, and math proficiency in grades 3-5 has tripled. She credits these achievements to the school’s structured coaching model implemented through its Opportunity Culture framework.

Beyond academic outcomes, Wilkins has championed partnerships with organizations such as Student U and Duke University to secure grants that provide critical academic support, mentorship and family engagement resources – helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.

“Strong schools are built through collaboration, vision and dedication to student success,” Wilkins said. “Through strategic coaching, thoughtful advocacy and continuous learning, I strive to ensure that Clarke Elementary remains a model of excellence where every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

The NCAE Principal of the Year Award is presented annually by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators. Nominees are judged on professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement and leadership skills.

The NCAE is the largest association of professional educators in North Carolina.

Mayor Pro Tem Remains Topic Of Conversation For Henderson City Council

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It is possible that the Henderson City Council will decide once again on who should be the mayor pro tem, a role that Council Member Garry Daeke had held since December 2023 until he was unseated in February 2025 and replaced with Council Member Michael Venable.

During the Council’s regular May meeting, however, Council Member Lamont Noel asserted that the February action was procedurally incorrect and set in motion a recommendation that later became a motion to return Daeke to the pro tem role. That motion was seconded and passed.

Then, at what was advertised to be a budget public hearing on Thursday, May 22, Council members picked up the issue yet again – this time with some clarification from the city attorney about proper procedures and following policy.

Noel acknowledged during the Thursday meeting that he’d mistakenly cited a policy that applies only to a special called meeting, not a regularly scheduled meeting, about the requirement that all Council members be present in order to add an item to the agenda.

In fact, agenda items may be added during any regular meeting and it’s done routinely. Although three Council members were absent in February, among them Daeke, a quorum was present and that is all that’s needed to hold a meeting or to add agenda items.

An agenda item may be added at a special called meeting only if all members are present.

As City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry explained to Council members, he consulted with the School of Government to try to get a handle on this tangled-up issue.

“If you decide to revote, that is fine,” Kingsberry said. But it’ll have to wait until a regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

The budget public hearing, which did take place following about 25 minutes about the mayor pro tem topic and a closed session called for during the meeting, is NOT a regular monthly meeting and Council Member Sara Coffey was not present.

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Memorial Garden at VCRFM

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On the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report from Michael Ellington:

Today’s segment highlights the Memorial Garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market and offers a reminder of an upcoming market advisory board meeting and pesticide training.

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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Vance County High School Commencement First Of 4 Ceremonies To Be Held

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– information courtesy of Vance County Schools

Family, friends, educators and community leaders watched proudly as 277 graduates representing the Vance County High School Class of 2025 received their diplomas, the first of two commencement exercises today for Vance County Schools.

The morning commencement took place Friday, May 23 at 9 a.m. in Viper Stadium, and began with the posting of colors presented by the Vance County High School proudly honored 277 graduates during its 2025 commencement ceremony, held Friday, May 23, at 9:00 a.m. in Viper Stadium. The event was a celebration of the accomplishments, perseverance, and bright futures of the Class of 2025.

Vance County Early College commencement will take place this afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. in the Wayne Adcock Auditorium, located in the Center for Innovation. This is a ticketed event.

The ceremony opened with the Posting of Colors presented by the North Carolina 81st Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard based at VCHS, followed by the National Anthem by Dr. Korwind Stokes, VCHS choral director at VCHS.

A special farewell address was delivered by Lia Machado, who offered a heartfelt send-off to the graduating seniors. She said, “In a world that often pressures you to conform or second-guess your worth, holding onto your values and beliefs becomes an act of quiet strength. It’s not always easy—there are moments of doubt and setbacks—but staying grounded in who you are lays the foundation for resilience and self-respect.”

Students received their diplomas from Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Superintendent Dr. Cindy W. Bennett, and Vance County Board of Education Chair Dorothy W. Gooche.

The Class of 2025 showcased exceptional achievement across academics, leadership, service, and postsecondary readiness:

  • Academic Honors

○ 2 graduate earned Summa Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 4.0+) ○ 4 graduates earned Magna Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.6–3.9) ○ 12 graduates earned Cum Laude honors (weighted GPA 3.25–3.5) ● College and Career Readiness

○ 204 college credit hours earned by VCHS students

○ 2 graduates earned Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification

 

○ 96 students earned WorkKeys certifications,

  • Scholarships and Higher Education

○ The Class of 2025 has earned more than $1,343,872 in scholarships and grants

○ 138 students have been accepted to two- or four-year colleges and                        universities

  • Honors and Distinctions

○ 5 students recognized as North Carolina Scholars

○ 16 members of the National Beta Club

○ 7 members of the National Honor Society

○ 48 graduates completed the AVID (Advancement Via Individual

Determination) program

○ Awards included the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the President’s Award for Achievement, and Music Honors

  • Military Enlistment

○ 12 graduates committed to serve in the United States Armed Forces, demonstrating their courage and commitment to our country.

Whitt delivered inspiring remarks, urging graduates to continue striving for excellence and to lead lives of purpose and impact.

As the Vance County High School Class of 2025 prepares to take their next steps into higher education, careers, military service, or other pursuits, the entire Vance County Schools community celebrates their accomplishments and looks forward to the bright futures ahead.

Congratulations, Vance County High School Class of 2025!

Looking Ahead 

The celebration at Vance County High School marks the beginning of a series of graduation events across the district:

 

  • AdVance Academy – Friday, June 6 at 2 p.m. at the Center for Innovation ● Vance Virtual Village Academy – Friday, June 6 at 4 p.m. at the Center for Innovation

(Note: All events require a ticket for entry.)

Henderson Police: Two Arrested Following Searches That Yield Drugs, Guns In Separate Incidents

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— information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

Over the past couple of days, Henderson Police have made arrests in two separate incidents that resulted in confiscation of drugs and weapons.

On Wednesday, May 21, officers responded to a call reporting individuals with firearms in the area of 925 Orange St., according to information from Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle parked on the roadway and noted marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, leading to the discovery of three fully automatic handguns—one of which was confirmed stolen—as well as approximately 670 dosage units of heroin, approximately 52 blue pills suspected to contain fentanyl and marijuana.

A 17-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and charged with the following offenses:

  • Three counts of Trafficking Heroin
  • Three counts of Possession of a Machine Gun
  • One count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • One count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm
  • One count of Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance

The juvenile posted a $165,000 bond.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, police officers, in collaboration with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, executed a narcotics search warrant at a residence located at 936 Bridgers St.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent search, officers seized approximately 81 grams of crack cocaine, 5.2 grams of powder cocaine, and drug manufacturing equipment.

Richard Andrew Durham, 48, was arrested in connection with this investigation.

Durham has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Two counts of Trafficking in Cocaine
  • One count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Cocaine
  • One count of Manufacture of Cocaine
  • One count of Maintaining a Dwelling for the Purpose of Storing a Controlled Substance
  • One count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Durham received a $200,000 secured bond and is currently being held at the Vance County Detention Center pending his next court appearance.

The Henderson Police Department remains committed to working with local and regional partners to combat illegal drug activity in our community.