WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 05-30-24 Noon
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 05-29-24 Noon
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TownTalk: Proposed County and City Tax Rates
Now that city and county elected officials have gotten recommended budgets from the city and county managers, it’s time for budget work sessions and public hearings to hear citizens’ comments before the final budgets are adopted.
State law requires that local governments must adopt their budgets before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins. June 1 is Saturday and July 1 is on a Sunday, giving leaders 20 business days to complete the difficult work of making any adjustments to the budget documents before the budgets are adopted.
The Vance County Board of Commissioners officially received the $57 million-plus budget just Monday from Manager C. Renee Perry.
This is Perry’s first budget presentation to this board of commissioners, and she told WIZS News said it was her decision to go with a revenue-neutral budget. The proposed property tax valuation is 61.3 cents per $100 valuation. The current valuation is 89 cents per $100, but the most recent reappraisal process has boosted the total property value by $2 Billion – to $4.9 billion from $2.9 billion.
The Henderson City Council received a $45 million budget from City Manager Terrell Blackmon earlier this month. The budget includes a 55-cent per $100 valuation – 10 cents higher than the revenue-neutral rate of 45 cents per $100 valuation.
The recommended city budget does not include any funding for McGregor Hall, which had requested $75,000. At Monday’s public hearing, there was a suggestion that was floated to give McGregor Hall a one-time $75,000 grant, provided other stipulations are in place – including having a current Council member on the voting board of the entertainment venue.
Numerous McGregor Hall proponents spoke at the Monday public hearing to voice their support of providing funds to the performing arts venue.
Like the city budget, Perry’s budget to county commissioners does not include any funding for McGregor Hall. It also doesn’t include funding for capital projects like jail renovations or a new EMS station.
“I’m not sure if they will change it, but I don’t plan on recommending an increase … I will be clear about items that can’t be funded without a tax increase,” Perry said to WIZS.
The 2024-25 county budget is less than 1 percent higher than last year’s budget – it’s larger by about $347,000. In her presentation, Perry stated that the budget was a conservative one.
The county will hold a public hearing as part of its Monday, June 3 meeting and budget work sessions on Monday, June 10 and Thursday, June 13 – all beginning at 6 p.m.
The city’s next budget work session, previously scheduled for Thursday, May 30, has been cancelled.
The next city meeting is set for Monday, June 3.
The 158-page recommended city budget document can be found at https://henderson.nc.gov/. Under the Departments heading, click on Finance to go directly to the dropdown box where the document is located.
The 138-page recommended county budget can be found at https://www.vancecounty.org/. Under the Departments heading, click on Board of Commissioners and locate the file in the dropdown box on the right side of the page.
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Vance County Commissioners Receive $57M Budget
The Vance County Board of Commissioners received the 2024-25 budget recommendation Tuesday afternoon. The budget totals more than $57 million and achieves a revenue-neutral tax rate of $61.3 cents per $100 property value, down from the current rate of 89 cents.
It took about 15 minutes for Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry to present the budget – $57,848,373 – to commissioners, noting several highlights on the revenue and on the expenditure sides. An additional $2.3 million will be used from the General Fund balance.
Roughly half of the county’s revenues – more than $26 million – is projected to come from property taxes, and the recent revaluation figures bumped up by $2 billion the county’s total property value – from $2.9 billion to the current value of $4.9 billion.
Commissioner Tommy Hester commended Perry on the budget and said he didn’t remember the county having a lower tax rate. “You’ve put together an outstanding budget without hurting the taxpayer,” Hester said.
Commissioner Chair Dan Brummitt said he appreciated Perry presenting a revenue-neutral budget.
Another highlight is a reduction in the county’s fire tax rate, from 8.9 cents to 5.94 cents – also revenue-neutral, Perry said.
The proposed budget is less than a 1 percent increase over last year’s budget, Perry noted in her presentation.
But the budget as it currently stands provides no money for jail renovations, McGregor Hall, the Around Town Shuttle (KARTS) or a new EMS building.
County departments put in requests for funding totaling $60.2 million, but the budget funds $57.8 million of those requests, which includes items like new vehicles for the sheriff’s office, a transport vehicle for the jail and a 166,000 ambulance remount.
Other expenditures include roughly $400,000 for the creation of a code enforcement department.
County staff will get a 4 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
Commissioners will have a public hearing on the budget at the June meeting, which will be held Monday, June 3 beginning at 6 p.m. Commissioners will hold budget discussions on Monday, June 10 and Thursday, June 13. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. State law requires local governments to adopt a new budget by July 1.
Tune in to TownTalk Wednesday at 11 a.m. to hear details of the county budget.
The 138-page budget document can be viewed at www.vancecounty.org/. Click on Departments and then Board of Commissioners to locate the file.
TownTalk: Author Rosetta Canada-Hargrove Publishes Two Books
It was when she first moved to the Henderson area, some 40 years ago, that Rosetta Canada-Hargrove started writing her first book. But, as with so many people, “life” intervened and papers and notes got put away in boxes for later.
As it turns out, “later” was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her husband and daughter encouraged her to pull out those boxes of paper and give it a whirl.
Now living in the Triad area, Canada-Hargrove has published not one, but two works of fiction. And they are part of a trilogy, so she’s gathering steam to create the third – and final – installment.
The first book, “Urban Beginnings,” is a short novel – only about 50 pages, she said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.
“After Urban Beginnings,” published just last month, weighs in at 170 pages.
Inspired to leave a legacy for her grandson, Canada-Hargrove said she started putting the pieces of the first book together. Both books are works of fiction, but they both contain messages that resonate with many people who find themselves in difficult relationships.
The story line has Kingston, a woman in her mid-20’s married to the love of her life, Giovanni, who Canada-Hargrove describes as a “womanizer.”
But Giovanni’s family was mixed up in the Mafia and Kingston decides to move South where things should be better.
Only they weren’t.
The message in the second novel is simple: “A person does not have to stay in a situation,” she explained. Kingston stays with her first husband “because he has some issues, but she is just an enabler,” Canada-Hargrove said.
Book Number Three, as yet untitled, has been in the works for a few weeks now. “It’s going to bring everything together,” its author promises. “I wanted to do it in three parts to keep people in suspense,” she said.
People have sent her messages thanking her for writing on the topic. And while she said the topic isn’t explicitly domestic violence or abuse, she wants readers to have a takeaway that they don’t have to stay in a relationship that is unhealthy.
It’s a dramedy, she says of the trilogy. “There’s comedy in there, there’s tears in there,” she said.
The books are available on Amazon.com.
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The Local Skinny! 100 Deadliest Days
Sandwiched in between two national holidays – Memorial Day and Labor Day – is a period of about 100 days that parents of teen drivers never want to commemorate: During those three or so months have proven to be the deadliest for teen drivers.
During the summer months, teen drivers find themselves with more time on their hands – school is out, and they may be driving to summer jobs or be a taxi service for younger siblings.
In 2021, NCDOT statistics show almost 14,000 car crashes involving teens during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, resulting in 36 fatalities.
The state’s graduated driver license program includes measures that can help new drivers, including restricted nighttime driving and non-family passenger limits.
Of course, experienced drivers of a particular age may have had those same restrictions placed on them by their parents before the graduated driver license system began, and parents today can still be a positive influence on their children when they get behind the wheel.
The top factors for crashes are speeding, lane departure and distracted driving.
Be a good role model for your children and follow all the safety tips: don’t text and drive, even if you’re using the phone to navigate or change the music you’re playing.
Read more at https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/driving-safety/Pages/teen-driver-safety.aspx
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 05-28-24 Noon
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Vance County United Way Grant Applications Due June 10
The United Way of Vance County’s 2024 grant application period is now open. Deadline for submission is close of business on Monday, June 10, 2024, and grants are planned to be awarded by the end of June.
According to information from Grants Committee Chairperson Sheri Jones, the turnaround time is quick, but the application is straightforward.
Agencies eligible to apply for the grants must be a 501( c ) 3 not-for-profit with an IRS tax exempt status and licensed under the 1975 solicitation of Charitable Funds Act unless specifically exempt, Jones noted.
Applicants may contact Secretary/Treasurer Jane Haithcock at 252.432.3778 or unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.
The plan is to interview eligible applicants on June 17 and announce grant awards on June 27.
Completed applications must be mailed to United Way of Vance County, P.O. Box 1352 – not dropped off at the office – or email scanned applications to unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.
If mailing a hard copy to P.O. Box 1352, Henderson, NC 27536, the application must be received by the 5 p.m. Monday, June 10 deadline as well.
Applications must be completed in their entirety to be accepted.
VCS Begins Graduations; 202 Graduate from VCHS, Early College At 6 PM
-information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin
Graduation season is officially underway in Vance County Schools, as Vance County High School awarded 202 students with their high school diplomas on Friday, May 24, 2024, in the Vance County High School stadium. The ceremony began at 9 a.m. Posting of Colors was presented by the North Carolina 81st Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard.
Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III shared words of encouragement to the graduating class, and VCHS Class of 2024 graduate Chedaria Turner delivered the farewell address to fellow classmates.
Turner shared a moment of gratitude to those who have impacted the lives of the Class of 2024, expressing that “Your belief in our dreams has been our strongest foundation.”
She continued by stating that the door to their futures had opened, the knob has twisted and opened “to a future where we will prosper and come out stronger than any others before or behind us.” She finished her words to her fellow graduates with well wishes, sharing “May your future play out to its fullest extent.”
Students were presented their diplomas by Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett, and Randy M. Oxendine, VCS Board of Education Chair.
Vance County Early College graduation will take place today at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.
AdVance Academy graduates on Friday, June 14 at 3 pm. followed by Vance Virtual Village Academy at 6 pm. The ceremonies will be held at the Center for Innovation and require a ticket to enter. There’s a livestream link on the VCS webpage: https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/
Congratulations, Vance County High School Class of 2024!
VCHS Class of 2024 Fast Facts:
- The following seniors enlisted in the military:
○ Dalton Black (U.S. Army)
○ Sarah Baldwin (U.S. Army)
○ Joshua Hicks (U.S. Army)
○ Na’Sean Jones (U.S. Air Force)
○ Ashley Yancey (U.S. Air Force)
○ Kimora Allen (U.S. Navy)
○ Jaliah Snickles-Fields (U.S. Navy)
○ Tony Bolanos-Armas (U.S. Marine Corps)
- 36 students graduated with distinction:
○ 17 seniors graduated Cum Laude (weighted GPA 3.25-3.5)
○ 15 seniors graduated Magna Cum Laude (weighted GPA 3.6-3.9)
○ 4 seniors graduated Summa Cum Laude (weighted GPA 4.0+)
- Students graduated with a variety of honors, including:
○ North Carolina Scholar
○ National Beta Club
○ President’s Award for Educational Excellence
○ President’s Award for Achievement
○ Music Honors
○ Council on International Exchange
○ Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Scholar
○ International Cultural Exchange Service
Follow Vance County Schools on social media to see photos from the graduation exercises.
Chamber Member Spotlight: Kerr Lake Country Club
– This post sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
Kerr Lake Country Club is celebrating 60 years! Since the mid-1960’s, this semi-private club has been a destination for families and individuals who want to enjoy a round of golf, a game of tennis or who just want to relax poolside.
Located at 600 Hedrick Drive off Satterwhite Point Road, KLCC offers a variety of membership levels: family memberships include unlimited golf and full pool/tennis, and there are single memberships, young adult memberships, and pool-only memberships so you’re sure to get the best package to fit your needs.
The beautifully manicured golf course is open to the public, accepting green fee play, and is a favored course that attracts golfers from surrounding counties as well.
Call KLCC at 252.492.1895 to learn more. Jan DeMarco is the club manager.
This thriving local business is a proud member of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, which recently featured the club in its Chamber Member Spotlight. Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson thanked KLCC for being a supportive member of the Chamber and Ronald Bennett, board member of the HV Chamber of Commerce presented the spotlight award and expressed gratitude for their longevity in providing great opportunities for locals as well as bringing tourism to Vance County. Bennett also wished them many more years of success ahead.