The Local Skinny! City to Provide Cooling Stations to Beat the Heat

/by

The Henderson City Council voted Monday to provide emergency cooling stations that will allow vulnerable residents to seek refuge – at least during the daytime hours – from the extreme heat.

When temperatures top 94 degrees, the mayor and city manager have the authority to choose to activate and operate cooling stations.

Council Member Michael Venable made the motion to approve adoption of the emergency facility policy, which was seconded by Council Member Tami Walker. The motion passed unanimously; Council Member Garry Daeke was not present at the meeting.

Interim City Manager Kendrick Vann explained that the cooling station would operate at the municipal building site at 110 Young St., in much the same way that “white flag” nights in winter provide shelter in extremely cold conditions.

The cooling station hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Vann said, and would not include any overnight stays.

In addition, he said the Henderson Fire Department is going to have bottles of water on hand for anyone who may need something to drink during periods of extreme heat like the recent stretch when temperatures were in the upper 90’s.

In a written explanation in the agenda packet, Vann stated that adoption of the policy “strengthens the City’s emergency preparedness and ensures staff and volunteers have clear guidance during hazardous heat conditions.”

 

CLICK PLAY!

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: The Second Vegetable Season

/by

Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today’s show is a mix of timely reminders and news. I remind listeners of fungal issues, the upcoming second vegetable season, our new market manager, and share research from NCSU about Blueberry pests.
Link to Blueberry story

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

Click Play!

Vance County Logo

TownTalk: Vance County Commissioners and Planning Board Talk UDO’s

/by

The Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Planning Board gathered Thursday afternoon for a joint meeting to get an update on progress of the development of a Unified Development Ordinance for the county.

Under the leadership of N-Focus, the county is in the process of updating policies that govern development and land use.

Michael Harvey with N-Focus shared a draft of the document during the hour-long meeting, and he walked the group through the various sections of the document.

Harvey said the UDO will provide a streamlined process that is easy for the public to read and follow, and will make policies easier to enforce.

The UDO is “born out of partnership, not mandates,” Harvey said.

N-Focus has worked with numerous counties and municipalities to develop ordinances and comprehensive land use plans over the past 20 years.

Harvey said N-Focus provides two years of service after the document is adopted to help resolve questions, address modifications or tackle other issues where support is needed.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt advocated for concentration first on Article 5 of the UDO draft, which includes data center development. If N-Focus can make that article a priority, then that part of the UDO could be adopted as a text amendment to the current ordinance.

Commissioner Valencia Perry said the current draft language is not strong enough; Harvey said N-Focus helps counties and municipalities develop their desired policies, while making sure the language is consistent with state law.

CLICK PLAY!

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Insects

/by

Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Most insects in the garden are beneficial insects. Gardeners need to learn to identify these beneficials.

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

Click Play!

More Than 40 Firefighters Respond To Fire At Glass Plant Saturday Night

/by

More than 40 firefighters responded to a call Saturday night to the Ardagh Group on Facet Road. Bearpond Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Pendergrass said the call about a glass leak came in about 10:20 p.m.

While the first units were on their way to the scene, firefighters got word that a tank had collapsed and flames were visible.

Firefighters from across the county helped, as well as departments from Franklin County. Crews remained at the scene for more than three hours, providing fire suppression, structural cooling and product containment.

The glass plant is still operational, he said. Damage was contained to the areas of the single tank that was involved. Apparently, the source of the incident was a furnace that holds molten glass before it is transferred through the machinery that creates the glass products. Pendergrass said the molten glass, at that point in the process, was about 2,800 degrees F.

Bearpond Fire Department got help from Epsom, Kittrell, Watkins, Vance County fire department, as well as Vance County EMS, Vance County Emergency Management and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Pendergrass, all employees were accounted for; no injuries were reported.

“Initial crews reported fire on multiple floors as well in the ceiling area,” Pendergrass said.

A fifth department was requested for additional manpower. Fire units would operate for roughly 3.5 hours. providing fire suppression, structural cooling and product containment.

“This incident is a true reflection of our great collaboration and working relationship between our departments and mutual aid partners,” Pendergrass said.

Click the photo to see more at the Epsom Volunteer Fire Department page on Facebook.

Click Play!

TownTalk: Stephen Wolf Tapped As New Market Manager at VCRFM

/by

As the new manager of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, Stephen Wolf is stepping right in at the height of the growing season, and he said everyone should come on out to pick up locally grown fruits, veggies and more.

“There’s a lot of beautiful produce out here,” Wolf said in an interview on Wednesday.

Since starting his new job in July, Wolf’s observations are that neither the persistent drought conditions nor sweltering heat have deterred producers or customers from coming out to the market.

Last Wednesday, for example, he said as many as 250 people visited the market. GRRO was out signing seniors up for the senior voucher program. “That was a strong Wednesday,” he said.

Topped only by Saturday, July 4, when more than 450 came in, “despite the heat, despite the holiday, they still came out and supported local. That really made us all feel good.”

The role of a market manager is complex – part cheerleader, part accountant, part community networker, part human resources expert – and that’s probably just scratching the surface. But Wolf said he brings a skill set to the job that sets him up for success.

As an entrepreneur and small business owner, Wolf has more than a decade of experience in facility management, and he knows how to market and sell products.

And while his previous experience as a farmer is limited to summertime work in a Williamsboro tobacco field when he was younger, Wolf said he’s got a soft spot in his heart for farmers. He wants to see local producers not only succeed, but thrive.

He describes himself as an inquisitive person, and he’s always willing to ask questions if he doesn’t know something. Since he’s been on board, he’s been talking with vendors at the market, shaking hands, hearing their stories and about what their business does.

“I want to build strong relationships with everyone so that we can all grow together,” he said.

“I see everybody out here trying,” Wolf said of the folks who bring their produce, locally sourced meats, eggs, fresh-cut flowers and handicrafts to market each week. “They’re hard workers, trustworthy people. “I want to see us all thrive – it’s the love of the game. I want to see Henderson come up, I want to see the market come up and I really just want to see the success.”

While he’s promoting the idea of eating local, Wolf said he also wants to make sure people know where the market is.

“I just want to help increase the visibility back here off of Beckford,” he said. In addition to more signs planted along roadsides, Wolf is beefing up the market’s social media presence.

And upcoming events – including a Misty Mayhem concert and a cooking class both on Aug. 1 – should bring some additional foot traffic to the market.

“I think we have the best facility in the entire region,” Wolf said. In addition to a great covered building, the community garden and the native pollinator garden that the Master Gardeners oversee are extra attractions for folks to come and enjoy.

Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/vcrfm/

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

CLICK PLAY!