Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Pender Reflects On First Season At VCHS

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Wilbur Pender was hired as Vance County High School’s head football coach only four weeks before the season started, and the team’s season was disrupted for two weeks due to Covid but none of that really mattered as the Vipers posted a 7-3 record this season making it to the state playoffs. They lost in the first round 48-6 to Westover High School in Fayetteville. Pender says that game, “Let us know where we are, I saw a lot of deficiencies show up.”
The Vipers, according to Pender, are a close team but, “We just didn’t play good enough to win that game. I hate to say it but the best team won,” Pender added. Looking back on the season Pender said the Vipers did their best to control what they could control, and he tried to give his team the best chance at a positive outcome.
While losing seniors like Omari Allen, who will be moving on to East Carolina next season, Pender says there will be a good group of players returning and he is encouraging his players to play other sports that will help make them better athletes when next season begins.
He expects to continue to grow the program at Vance County and would like to see a rebuild of the Jay-Vee program which, because of the pandemic, did not happen this year.

 

Crossroads Christian School

SportsTalk: Richardson Tips Off Crossroads Basketball Season Friday

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Scottie Richardson has two hats. One hat is his Athletic Director’s hat and the other is his Head Basketball Coach hat.  Friday night he will be wearing his basketball hat as Crossroads Christiam kicks off the 2021 basketball season against Oxford Prep.  In his 4th year as coach Richardson says there is a system in place for the team which will have 14 players including five seniors, anchored by All State player Andreas Prince who averaged 22 points per game and made 44% of three point attempts last season. On Tuesday Crossroads will face Henderson Collegiate in a game that can be heard live on WIZS beginning immediately following the Joy Christian Center broadcast.

Richardson says that he is expecting good things from the basketball program but also praised other sports at the school, “It’s the best athletic season in school history,” Richardson stated on Thursday’s SportsTalk with Trey Snide. The school’s soccer team, which started 0-4 on the year finished the season with the most wins in school history for the program with 15. The previous record for men’s soccer was four. The soccer team finished ranked 3rd in the state losing in the final four by one point.  The cross country team, which had not had a full roster in nine years, won the state championship this season. Girls volleyball posted 10 wins this year, the most victories since 2010.

“We got the right coaches on the bus and the wrong ones off,” Richardson said of the success of the school’s athletic programs.

 

The Local Skinny! Youth Interested In Showing Dairy Calves Can Attend Meeting Nov. 16 At Warren Armory

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Youngsters who want to learn more about the 2022 Dairy Calf project of the Warren County Extension 4-H program are invited to a meeting next week, according to information from Matthew Place, Warren livestock agent.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Warren Armory Civic Center. The civic center is located at 501 US Hwy. 158 Bus E, Warrenton, NC 27589.

Participants do not have to live in Warren County; Place said he welcomes youngsters and their parents to the meeting to learn details.

The eight-week project will take place next summer. The 4-Hers will work with their assigned Guernsey calf weekly to get them ready for the Central Carolina District Junior Dairy Show.

The 4-H program is for young people ages 5 to 18.

For more information, contact the Warren County office of N.C. Cooperative Extension at 252.257.3640.

 

Vance County Logo

Vance Commissioners Will Meet Nov. 17 To Review, Approve Voting District Changes

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The Vance County Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 17 to review the proposed voting district map.

Chairman Dan Brummitt called the special meeting, which will begin at 5 p.m. in the commissioners’ conference room of the county administration building, 122 Young St., Henderson.

This information comes from Clerk to the Board Kelly H. Grissom.

Vance County had to redraw voting district lines following the release of the 2020 Census data.

The proposed redrawn district lines will affect several of the seven districts in Vance County, and according to information from the county, there remain a few small areas that need more tweaking.

The ideal number of residents in each district is 6,083, according to complicated algorithms used in making the calculations for ensuring the districts are as balanced as possible.

According to the map’s legend, District 4 comes the closest to this ideal number with 6,086. The other district populations are: District 1 – 6,073; District 2 – 6,044; District 3 – 6,111; District 5 – 6,101; District 6 – 6,088; and District 7 – 6,075.

Some of the proposed changes include:

  • An area with general boundaries of Carey Chapel Road, Stewart Farm Road and Daniel Harris Road will move to District 3 from District 2;
  • Several pockets of District 5 will move to District 2, including one area bounded by Charles, East and Water streets and one area around Boddie, Lamb and Main streets;
  • An area in the vicinity of Vance Academy Road and Old County Home Road will move from District 7 to District 4;
  • An area near Dorsey Road and Oxford Road will leave District 7 and move to District 6;
  • An area near Parker Lane and Meadow Lane will move from District 5 to District 7;
  • An area near Shirley Drive and Yadkin Street will go from District 7 to District 5;
  • A portion of District 1 with general borders of Old Hester Place, Willow Creek Run, and Hicksboro, St. Andrews Church and Kings roads will move to District 5;
  • and a portion of District 5 near Barham Lane and Glendas Lane will move to District 1

There remain several spots on the proposed district map that need a little more work, including along the line shared between Districts 2 and 5 and along the lines shared between Districts 3 and 6.

To view the map with the proposed changes, visit: https://www.vancecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Redistricting-Proposed-Plan-C.pdf

TownTalk: Gang Free Working To Vaccinate Families

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Gang Free Inc. in Henderson is one of 10 sites across the state selected to partner with NC Department of Health and Human Services and Healthier Together to offer a six-week-long family vaccination clinic.

Melissa Elliott, founder of Gang-Free Inc. said 56 individuals participated in the Nov. 6 kickoff event at 940 County Home Road. “We’ve been rolling ever since,” she told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. The clinic is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The exception is Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25) and Friday, Nov. 26. Appointment times are available, but not necessary. Elliott said drop-ins are welcome.

The clinic is for individuals of any age, she said, adding that they have the Pfizer vaccine recently approved for children 5-11. And anyone coming to get their first vaccine before Nov,. 30 will receive a $100 gift card, she added.

Elliott said it is “totally humbling” to see her organization listed among the other state sites that are hosting the family vaccination clinics and said it is a tribute to the mission of Gang-Free to be a location that seeks to offer help to the community.

Gang-Free Inc. isn’t a large organization, she acknowledged, but said what it may lack in size, it makes up for with community spirit.

“We’ve got hearts and we care about people,” she said.

Having a clinic that is open to the whole family is a great form of outreach, she said. Often,  marginalized populations that face a scarcity of money and resources are a target for educating and informing about the vaccination. “We always educate before we vaccinate,” she said. Health educators on hand help explain the need for a vaccinated population. When Elliott hears them relate the COVID-19 vaccine to other routine and accepted vaccines that children get, she said it helps the public understand the importance of vaccination.

“I don’t see anything as a problem,” Elliott said, rather, “I’m always looking for solutions.” Helping people understand their role in helping their community is part of the group’s mission with the family vaccine clinic. “We’re going to knock all the barriers out of the way – we’re going to get them here,” Elliott emphasized.

If you need transportation, contact KARTS at 252.438.2573.

For more information about the clinic, call 252.598.0067.

Visit Myspot.nc.gov to learn more.

 

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk: Lisa Harrison Praises Area Healthcare Workers; Appears Before Congress

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If you receive a postcard in the mail from Granville Vance Public Health in the next little bit, Lisa Harrison surely would appreciate it if you agree to help out with a project that is currently underway in the two-county area.

Harrison, GVPH director, said the health department is conducting its community assessment to solicit information from residents about what is foremost on their minds with regard to health issues.

She told John C. Rose on Town Talk Wednesday that the health district is going to be sending out postcards to about 4,000 individuals – chosen at random – to complete an online survey that will be used to complete the community health assessment.

In addition, there will be two focus groups held next week – one at Gang Free Inc, 940 County Home Rd., Henderson on Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a second at Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W. McClanahan St., Oxford on Nov. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For the past several years, the health department has focused on mental health, substance abuse, youth well-being and access to health care services. Results from the current community assessment will help inform the direction for county health professionals to take over the next several years. Harrison said she wants the public to say “what we should spend our time and money on in the next three years.”

As health director, she is attuned to the programs offered and services needed in Vance and Granville counties.

But Harrison also currently serves as president of the board of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), which has taken her to conferences and meetings across the country.

She recently testified before Congress about the national shortage of health care workers and a possible loan repayment program to improve the situation.

“It was a really nice opportunity to brag on our workforce,” Harrison said. Those health care workers who have been “working at the tip of the spear” during the COVID-19 pandemic need to have advocates like Harrison representing them on the national level.

The hearing lasted about 4 ½ hours, but she said it seemed like there was bipartisan support for the loan repayment program.

The front-line workers battling COVID-19 aren’t much different from soldiers defending the country and keeping it safe. “I appreciate that there was some discussion…to protect Americans,” she added.

As for the staff at the health department, Harrison has nothing but glowing comments to share. “It’s always an honor and a privilege to talk about (them),” she said. They are dedicated to this community and so “it’s easy for me to tell that story.” The health department locations in Henderson and Oxford have extended clinic hours to make it easier for people to come after work and school to get vaccinated.

“Now’s the time” to get vaccinated, Harrison said. “We don’t want any more variants…(and) certainly we don’t want any more deaths. A vaccine is the best way to protect everybody.”

 

 

Salvation Army

TownTalk: Salvation Army Prepares For Bell Ringing and Other Events

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Area retailers are gearing up for the annual Christmas shopping season and the leaders of the local Salvation Army have numerous ways that area residents can join in while sharing hope with children in the community.

One way is by volunteering to ring the bell by the iconic Red Kettle that is synonymous with the Salvation Army. But there are other ways to make the holidays brighter as well, say Capts. Derrick and Odessa Smith of The Salvation Army of Henderson.

The Smiths were on Town Talk Tuesday and spoke to John C. Rose about upcoming events and ways the community can participate.

Odessa Smith said the annual Angel Tree campaign has about 300 children signed up to receive Christmas gifts. Now is the time to choose an angel from one of the Army’s tree locations, she said. Shoppers also can adopt an angel virtually by going online at either the Salvation Army site or from Walmart, which will send all selected gifts directly to the Salvation Army.

The Red Kettle Kickoff will be held Thursday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. outside Belk of Henderson. He said the kickoff event will be an exciting time, during which participants will learn how the kettles became a symbol for the work of the Salvation Army. Visit https://www.registertoring.com/ to sign up to volunteer.

“The calendar for that is picking up,” he noted. Individuals or groups may sign up to ring the bell outside area retail stores.

Odessa Smith said gifts purchased for the Angel Tree project may be dropped off at the Salvation Army facility, 2292 Ross Mill Road.

This year, she noted, many parents have included winter clothing items on the wish list for their children. Winter coats and other appropriate warm outerwear will be especially appreciated this year, she added.

The Ross Mill Road location is the spot to drop off food items, as well as toys and clothing for the Angel Tree project.

Thrift store items, however, should be taken directly to the store, located at 218 Raleigh Road.

As with the thrift store revenue, almost all of the money collected during the holiday Red Kettle Campaign stays right here in the community to support programs.

The Salvation Army just celebrated its 100th anniversary of work in the Henderson area. Derrick said he’s very thankful and pleased to have “great people committed to our organization to help us provide hope within our community.”

Whether it’s a Red Kettle outside a store or a food drive to help senior adults with groceries, the Smiths said collaboration within the community is crucial to their ongoing success. “Collaboration and partnerships like that are meaningful,” Derrick said.

Because of the strong community partnerships, the Smiths anticipate in early 2022 the beginning of youth music programs that include brass band and woodwind instruments, as well as archery, air rifle classes. The ball fields are being built, too, which will further add to the program capability.

“We look forward to the growth of those ministries,” he said.

Visit https://bit.ly/3wtF6Os to adopt an angel from the angel tree or purchase directly from Walmart’s angel tree at https://bit.ly/3wqlACK to have gifts delivered directly to the Salvation Army office.