SportsTalk Omari Allen Signs Letter Of Intent With ECU

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Vance County High School’s 2021 football season resulted in a trip to the state playoffs. One of the big reasons, and that’s a term that certainly fits this story, is Omari Allen. Allen was a lineman for the Vipers and a good one.  Good enough to garner the attention of East Carolina University.  On Wednesday, Allen signed his national letter of intent to play for the Pirates.  Allen received an official offer this past June and Allen spoke with his coaches at length about the decision to attend ECU.

At yesterday’s signing, held at the school’s library, Vance Co. High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow said he was very, very proud of Allen’s accomplishments over the course of his high school career.  “Allen embodies the term “leadership”,” said Head Football Coach Wilbur Pender. “He provided great input and feedback to the coaching staff,” Pender continued. Allen credits Pender with turning the school’s football program around and said it has been fairly easy navigating the changes that have come through the school with different head coaches and the consolidation of Northern and Southern Vance that happened during his high school football career.

In addition to his coaches and Vipers players, Allen had many family members present. Allen’s mother described her son as a gentle boy who was always huge. “Every mom know it’s a lot taking care of a child. It’s not always easy,” she said. She said Omari had great support from the coaching staff. “He’s worked really hard but I’m not ready for him to leave,” she added.

His grandmother was also in attendance at the signing ceremony and said it was a bittersweet day. She said Omari would do anything for her such as mowing grass and other household chores. She also said he really enjoys her cooking.

Allen took the signing opportunity to thank all of the school’s staff, coaches, players and family members who have made it possible for him to continue his football journey at East Carolina.  Allen says he plans to play 10 to 15 plays a game as a freshman and to make an impact immediately at ECU.

 

SportsTalk: Introducing Mike Joyner, The New AD At Kerr Vance Academy

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Mike Joyner has been named as the new Athletic Director for Kerr Vance Academy.  His first day on the job isn’t until February 1st, but Joyner has already been on campus to meet people and take in a basketball game.

Joyner, who currently is in the same position at Wake Forest High School, got his career underway coaching middle school baseball in Johnston County in 1994. He also was a coach at Smithfield-Selma High School as well.

Joyner, who spoke with Trey Snide on Thursday’s edition of SportsTalk, says he is looking forward to getting his hands dirty and starting a new chapter in his career at KVA. “I’m excited about taking over a program with such a rich history.” KVA has multiple state championships in a variety of sports.

At Wake Forest High School, Joyner enjoyed the football season. “It will be really different without football,” Joyner said when describing the transition to KVA.

“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Joyner said when asked about his immediate goals at the school. He is looking forward to meeting the people involved with the school and immersing himself in KVA’s culture along with involving himself with the booster club.

He has already had the opportunity to make assessments on the baseball field and he will have to hit the ground running on his first day, February 1st as KVA has a basketball game scheduled that night.

 

Changes in City Recycling, Yard Debris Schedule For Christmas Holiday

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The City of Henderson has announced the upcoming holiday schedule for sanitation services.

The schedule will be as follows for Recycling and Yard Debris:

Monday, Dec. 20 – Monday and Tuesday Route
Tuesday, Dec. 21 – Wednesday and Thursday Route
Wednesday, Dec. 22 – Friday Route
Thursday, Dec. 23 – Holiday  – No Work
Friday December 24 – Holiday –  No Work

The GFL (Waste Industries) garbage collection will operate on a normal schedule.

Swine, Dairy Producers Can Apply For COVID-19 Funds To Help Recoup Losses

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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has opened the application period for the first phase of its North Carolina Swine and Dairy Assistance program. The $30 million in federal COVID-19 funds appropriated by the N.C. General Assembly will offer assistance for eligible swine and dairy producers for losses incurred from termination of contracts or ceased milk production due to the pandemic.

“A significant number of swine farms have lost contracts and dairies have been forced out of business due to the pandemic. It has been a rough time for many farmers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. The application process has two phases. Phase 1 determines eligibility is open now. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time assistance payment of $31,500. Phase 1 is designed to get money quickly to farmers. “If you are a farmer and this program applies to you then get your application in as soon as possible,” Troxler stated.

Phase 2 will focus on infrastructure modifications to barns, hog houses and/or lagoons. More details on Phase 2 will be released in February 2022.

The grant application and required forms can be downloaded from the NCDA&CS website at www.ncagr.gov.  The deadline to apply is June 30, 2023, but funds are limited so farmers are encouraged to go ahead and apply.

For questions about the program in general, call 866.747.9823. Farmers may also contact their local cooperative extension, Farm Service Agency or N.C. Farm Bureau offices for help with the application.

TownTalk: Vance County Architecture Survey Continues

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Work continues on the architectural survey for Vance County, and the 2-person team responsible for checking on already-identified properties will be back in 2022 to collect information on new places in the county that will be included in the completed survey.

That work will continue until October 2023, said Elizabeth King, architectural survey coordinator for the state’s historic preservation office.

Bill Harris and Mark Pace, of the North Carolina Room at Richard Thornton Library in Oxford, checked in with King today on the tri-weekly history segment of Town Talk.

The consultants who are doing the field work have updated about 360 files that already existed in the state’s files. The files are in the review process now, she said. “After the new year, they will do some more field work on new properties that we don’t have files on.”

That could take another six months, she predicted, and then the team will move to the city of Henderson to do the same thing.

King said that, so far, about 80 of the state’s 100 counties have been surveyed. Vance County’s was long overdue, and King said she was glad to be able to have the work started. Once Vance and Person counties and a few others are completed, that number will rise to 86.

Most of the architectural surveys have resulted in publication of a book, and King said she usually works with a local historical society, nonprofit or local government to collaborate with.

So far, she hasn’t heard from anyone in Vance County about a collaboration.

“I’d be very happy to talk to anyone interested in sponsoring that type of project,” she said, adding that, in her experience, “the cost is almost immediately offset – and surpassed – with book sales.”

The survey is not just about capturing information about those old family homes that have been a part of the county’s landscape for generations, King noted. Her team uses the Fifty-Year Rule, which basically means that if a building or structure has been around for 50 years, then it may have architectural significance.

Using that rule, there are structures today that may not have met that requirement when the last survey was completed, but they do now. Whether it’s a church, a school, a post-World War II subdivision or a prison unit, there are many properties that warrant attention by the surveyors.

It is vitally important to the survey to be able to talk with people in the community about the different types of buildings to provide a living memory, she said. The survey “gives us a chance to talk to people about how a building was used, how it was contructed,” King said. But they also want to hear comments like “Oh, we thought it was hideous,” or “Well, my granddaddy told me…” King said.

“We can collect stories from people who can remember those early impressions,” she said, which provides valuable information for future generations who will read the documents that are created today.

Tobacco buildings like curing barns are well-documented because tobacco was such an important cash crop for this area, but King wonders whether there is information about other important crops in the area that also may have special outbuildings associated with them.

King said she has known about the rich history in Vance County for a long time, and she is pleased that, as this project continues, “more and more people I work with have realized it, too.”

There’s a growing awareness in the preservation community about the treasures in Vance County.

The project will continue to see the public’s input to learn about prospective new listings for the survey.

“We’d be so pleased to hear from whoever is interested in this project,” King said.

Contact King at elizabeth.king@ncdcr.gov or 919.814.6580 or survey team member Heather Slane at heather@hmwpreservation.com.

 

The Local Skinny! County Commissioners Minutes Review

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Local meeting minutes are like a system of checks and balances.  You get a recap of news, a chance to double check anything that may have been missed and the words written as the entity in question saw it.

Click Play

Plain and simple, I love reading meeting minutes for the locally elected boards, commissions and councils … particularly for the school board, the city council and the county commissioners.

It’s to last month’s Nov. 1 Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting that we turn to today on WIZS for The Local Skinny!  Just another chance to dig around in the dirt and to learn more about what’s going on in Vance County.

These are direct quotes from the meeting minutes found online at vancecounty.org.  This is not the whole meeting minutes but rather highlights that read as newsworthy at this time.

“The Vance County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the commissioners’ conference room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC.”

…

“Public comments were heard first. Mr. Ron Regular spoke about a WRAL report regarding the Vance County’s Sheriff’s Office and the three employees who were indicted. He also stated that he would like to see high speed internet available throughout the county.

“Mr. John Miles expressed his concerns with the Sheriff’s Office continuing to pay three employees who are on administrative leave due to being indicted by a grand jury. He asked the board how long are they going to allow this to continue.”

…

“Mr. Chase Wingate with Open Broadband was next on the agenda to provide the quarterly project report for the county’s broadband initiative as well as an activity update. He explained the trouble they have had with delays in receiving equipment and stated that it was slowly improving.

“After lengthy discussion, Chairman Brummitt expressed his concerns with agreement milestones not being met. Mr. Wingate responded that he anticipates a great deal of progress to be made soon.”

…

“Committee Reports and Recommendations section

“Properties Committee – Surplus Property Offer from Vance County Schools. Mr. McMillen stated that the committee reviewed a letter from the school board seeking to surplus Western Vance School and offering the property and the old two story Eaton Johnson building to the County. Both properties are no longer needed or necessary for public school purposes, and in accordance with NC General Statute 115C-518, the school system is required to offer the properties to the county before attempting to sell the properties. The committee discussed the possibility of utilizing the Western Vance property for a rural park in the future, but did not see an immediate need for the county to take ownership of either property offered. The committee recommended providing a written response declining interest in taking ownership of either property.”

…

“From the County Manager’s Report

“Vaya Health Transition and Regional Board Appointments. Mr. McMillen advised that Vaya Health anticipates finalizing their consolidation with Cardinal Innovations January 1, 2022. Vaya anticipates approval from the DHHS Secretary of their alternative board structure in the coming days. A total of 31 counties are in the Vaya catchment area and their intent is to create four regions of counties. Vance County would be in region four with Granville, Franklin, Person, Caswell, Alamance, Chatham, and Stokes County. Maps of Vaya counties and region designations were provided to the board. Mr. McMillen stated that each of the counties are to appoint two members to the regional community board and each of the four regional boards will appoint two members to the newly consolidated and reconstituted Vaya Health Board. Additionally, four members will be appointed to the Vaya Board by the Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC), one will be appointed by the DHHS Secretary, and up to eight at-large seats will be appointed by the current Vaya Board. Vaya is aiming to have the board in place by January 1st. Vance County will need to appoint two members to the regional community board at the December board meeting. One member must be a commissioner and the second member can be a commissioner, DSS Director, Health Director, Law Enforcement representative, or County Manager.

“Chairman Dan Brummitt expressed his interest in serving in this capacity.”

Infinite Possibilities, Inc. Offers Support Group To Help Women Overcome Scars Of Violence, Abuse

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Infinite Possibilities, Inc. is offering a support group to help women who have experienced abuse and trauma.

Participants can attend the “Mending The Soul” support group either virtually or in person, according to Erin N. Carter, a victim’s advocate for Infinite Possibilities, a domestic violence & comprehensive support services agency in Henderson.

Attendees will choose which group to join – either the virtual sessions on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. or the in-person sessions which will be held on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants who register for the face-to-face meetings will be informed of the location upon registration.

The support group provides a safe, judgment-free environment where participants can rediscover their true voice. Topics to be discussed include healthy boundaries, self-esteem and the importance of self-care. The session leaders strive to empower and heal women who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault.

Space in the support groups is limited.

For more information, contact Infinite Possibilities, Inc. at 252.431.1926 or visit their website at www.infinitepossibilitiesinc.com.

 

Small Business Owners: Hopes For More Holiday Sales, Lower Risk Of Shoplifting

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It goes without saying that business owners and area retailers depend on customers coming in to their stores throughout the year, but it’s especially important during the holiday season when gift-buying and giving provide a healthy boost in sales.

But with that increased customer foot traffic comes an increased risk of shoplifting. Madison Haggin, communication specialist with business.org, said a recent study by the organization shows that more than half of all small businesses report an increase in shoplifting during peak shopping seasons like Christmas.

And more than 4 in 10 shoplifters get away – with the merchandise.

Here are a few results from the survey of small businesses:

  • 25 percent have had to deal with customers using stolen credit cards.
  • 25 percent of small businesses have increased the prices of their products because of shoplifting.
  • 25 percent of small businesses experience shoplifting on a weekly basis, while 23% experience shoplifting on a daily basis.
  • 15 percent of small business owners have had a shoplifting incident turn violent, while 2 in 3 businesses have called the police.

Haggin recommends that small-business owners develop a shoplifting policy to guide employees to deal with shoplifting incidents. Consider using an inventory management software program to keep track of merchandise in the store. Having a security camera or alarm may not reduce shoplifting, but it could deter would-be offenders and could potentially provide video evidence.

Business.org partnered with Pollfish to conduct an anonymous survey of 700 small-business owners with a +/- 2% margin of error with a confidence level of 95 percent.