WIZS Radio 2024 General Election Coverage

/by

Democratic incumbent Carolyn Faines swept all three precincts Tuesday to retain her District 1 seat on the Vance County Board of Commissioners, defeating Republican challenger William Heitman, with 56 percent of the vote over Heitman’s 44 percent.

The District 1 seat was the only contested local race on Vance County ballots, with three other commissioners and three school board members running unopposed.

Faines got 1,808 votes to Heitman’s 1,417 votes from those who cast ballots in the Middleburg, New Hope and Community College precincts.

Reached by phone Tuesday night, Faines said she is excited and thankful for another opportunity to serve the county in what will be her third term as District 1 commissioner.

“I thank the citizens for trusting me again,” Faines said, adding that she intends to serve Vance County to the best of her ability and “do what’s right for every citizen,” adding that she hears their voices and their concerns.

WIZS News spoke to Heitman Tuesday night after the results were in, and the challenger said he had sent a congratulatory note to Faines on her victory.

In the time leading up to the election, Heitman said the county’s property tax rate and property revaluation became hot topics of conversation and “called a lot of people out to pay attention.”

He said those issues caused more people to get involved…(and) keep an eye on what the commissioners do and what they vote for.

Here is the breakdown by precinct in the District 1 contest:

Middleburg: Faines 363 Heitman 183

Community College: Faines 153 Heitman 115

New Hope: Faines 1,292 Heitman 1,119

Total voter turnout in Vance County was 69.5 percent, slightly lower than the 2020 turnout of about 71 percent. A total of 20,095 ballots were cast – including 611 mail-in and absentee votes cast, along with 15,637 – more than 54 percent – ballots that were cast during the early-voting period between Oct. 17 and Nov. 2.

Vance County Board of Elections Chairman James Baines provided WIZS News the summary sheet of all 12 precincts by about 9:15 p.m. to confirm the unofficial results of the District 1 race.

Also, by 9:40 p.m., with all 25 precincts reporting, challenger Bryan Cohn had received 182 more votes than incumbent Frank Sossamon for the race for N.C. House District 32, which includes Vance and Granville counties.

Cohn, a former Oxford city commissioner, garnered 60 percent of the total vote among Vance County voters. Cohn got 21,054 votes to 20,872 votes for Sossamon with all 25 precincts reporting.

In the race for N.C. House District 7, which includes a portion of Vance County, Republican incumbent Matthew Winslow is the projected winner, with 26,995 votes, over Democratic challenger Jesse Goslen, who had 20,520 with all precincts reporting.

Republican State Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes held a slim lead over Democratic challenger James Mercer and is the projected winner in the District 11 race, winning with 51.35 percent of the vote to Mercer’s 48.65 percent.

The Henry A. Dennis Building in downtown Henderson is home to the Vance County Board of Elections.

Maria Parham Health Hosts Reception, Meet And Greet For Surgical Robot

/by

Part of Maria Parham Hospital’s main lobby was set up Monday to simulate one of its operating rooms, but not just a run-of-the-mill OR. Yes, there were some usual sights – a “patient” on a table, employees in scrubs, but there also was a console, a monitor and a device situated over the operating table with arm-like extensions.

It was all a part of a daylong reception to officially welcome a robot called Da Vinci to its new home at Maria Parham.

Maria Parham Public Information Officer Donna Young said the robot is a product of medical device company Intuitive; it’s been helping out in OR 3 since Oct. 1.

The hospital held a contest to encourage folks in the community to suggest a name for the four-armed high-tech equipment, which was announced at the end of the reception. Drum roll, please: Lady D is the robot’s name – short for Lady da Vinci.

Three surgeons use the system at this point, but others will complete the training so they can use it, too.

Instead of standing or sitting beside the patient, the surgeon peers into a console to see the area of the body being operated on and manipulates with the thumb and middle finger in a glove-like device that moves the robot’s arms.

Two Intuitive representatives were on hand Monday to answer questions about the device and to invite individuals to test out the system, which allows surgeons to perform complex operations with precision and control.

Maria Parham’s robot will be used for abdominal surgeries, but future plans include adding some urological and gynecological procedures, hospital officials said.

 

In addition to the advantages that the robot offers surgeons, patients also benefit from the minimally invasive surgeries and procedures, including a lower risk of infection, smaller scars, less trauma to surrounding healthy tissue and a quicker recovery.

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library For November

/by

It’s DiNo-vember at Perry Memorial Library and Youth Services Director Melody Peters said this month’s activities will embrace all things dinosaurs.

“We’ve got some great activities,” Peters said – who doesn’t love a good dinosaur? From the ferocious T-Rex and raptors with razor-sharp teeth to the mild-mannered stegosaurus, dinosaurs fuel children’s imaginations.

Peters said it’s the first time since she’s been here that she’s used the theme.

Thursday’s Mother Goose story time at 11 a.m. will have a dino theme this month, and the Story Walk outside the library will, too.

Then there’s Pajama Story Time at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Family Story Time on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3:30 p.m.

But wait! There’s more!

Peters said she’s excited to announce that children can participate in a special “adopt a dino” activity. What’s the catch? Well, you have to read a book to the stuffed dinosaur (non-readers can get some help from a family member) and then that plush animal can find its way home with you, she said.

Peters said she must give credit where credit is due for the idea of “DiNo”-vember. The idea originated, she said, from some very creative parents whose young child was not sleeping at night. They created lifelike dinosaur scenes throughout the house, which gave the children something to do and distract them long enough for them to settle down and get back to sleep.

“It just shows you what families with young kids (do), get creative to solve problems,” Peters said.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/home to learn about all the programs and services the library offers.

 

CLICK PLAY! 

TownTalk: Economic Development In Vance County

/by

As the county’s new economic development director, Ferdinand Rouse has spent his first few months on the job taking stock of all the things that make Vance County attractive to prospective business and industry.

But he’s also digging into the county’s history and the people who have helped to shape it over the years so he can build on what’s been done before he came to town.

“Vance County is in a position of change – and growth,” Rouse said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. With a nod to previous economic development director McKinley Perkinson and interim Harry Mills, Rouse said he chooses “to pick up where they left off and move us forward.”

With one-year, three-year and five-year goals in mind for the county, Rouse said a personal goal is to introduce himself to business and industry owners in the county, and to let them know about a couple of state grants that could be helpful when they’re ready to expand.

One is a building reuse grant, available for businesses that are planning an expansion that will add a certain number of employees to the payroll. A second grant called One NC originates from the N.C. Dept. of Commerce and offsets costs that business and industry use to create jobs.

Although both require local matches, but Rouse said they are “very good grants that I like to spread the news about for larger industries.”

Economic development often is associated with attracting new business – manufacturing, industrial, retail – to an area, but Rouse reminds that a lot of growth comes from the existing industry base within a county’s boundaries.

He does have his eyes on a few spots in the county that could be ripe for development in the future, he said, but it’s too early to predict just how it’ll play out.

As a product of eastern North Carolina, Rouse said he’s familiar with what it means to live in a rural area and the pride associated with those roots.

“It’s a tightrope you have to walk when you’re talking about bringing growth to a rural community,” he said. “Folks don’t want folks coming in from the outside” if they sense that their rural lifestyle is threatened.

Rouse said the Industrial Park, with its shell building ready for a business to come in and finish to its particular needs is one of the county’s biggest assets when it comes to attractive new business. And it’s certainly something he’s sure to point out when he’s networking, or as he said, being “the tip of the spear” when it comes to all the opportunities within the park and the county as a whole.

Another tip of another spear in the county’s quiver could easily be tourism, Rouse mused. People who come to visit – whether it’s the annual car show, boating and camping at Kerr Lake or any of a variety of destinations – can learn first-hand about the county’s amenities.

And when retirement rolls around, some of these tourists can become full-time residents.

With the county’s recent retirement community designation from the state, Rouse said there is great potential for Vance County to gain residents who not only bring a wealth of experience, but disposable income and a desire to give back to their new community.

“They still have money and they still have energy,” he said. “Retirees are a boon and a blessing.”

He said local tourism officials are doing all the right things to support economic growth.

“Tourism…can bring great success to your community.”

CLICK PLAY! 

TownTalk: Downtown Henderson An Opportunity For Diversity

/by

Downtown Henderson could become a center for diversity and growth.

CLICK PLAY!

 

More Affordable Housing Coming To Henderson – Hicks Village On Winder Street/Eddie Hicks Drive

/by

 

Henderson is set to add about a dozen new townhomes to its inventory as it continues to address the need for affordable housing.

Developers hope to break ground in spring 2025 on the roughly two-acre tract located across the street from Kesler Temple on Winder Street. The result will be 10-12 single family homes known as Hicks Village.

The announcement was made shortly after city leaders unveiled on Friday, Nov. 1 signs designating Winder Street as Eddie James Hicks Drive. Hicks was a member of Kesler Temple, and Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott said, “Hicks Village stands as a remarkable testament to hard work and dedication, reflecting the commitment of the late Eddie Hicks, a vital member of our community. It is truly fitting to honor his legacy.”

The project’s developer is James Stroud, with the Centre for Homeownership & Economic Development. Stroud was on hand for the sign dedication ceremony and subsequent announcement and ribbon-cutting at the site of the future Hicks Village, where he said he hopes to keep the prices “very, very affordable.”

Elliott told WIZS News that she remembers when she became a homeowner. “I can attest that once the keys were placed in my hand, I felt a sense of pride that cannot be diminished,” she said.

“Hicks Village represents the beginning of a new narrative for our citizens. It demonstrates that if you can afford $1000 for rent, you can become a proud homeowner. As Mayor, I want this message to resonate throughout our community: you can purchase a home— a home that is safe and beautiful.”

Henderson City Council member Geraldine Champion was among the elected officials at the Friday event and said she was proud of the collaborative efforts involved in the day’s activities.

“…At last, the people of Henderson have some real options along with just being a renter,” Champion said. “They have the option to take pride in their surroundings and being able to afford what we all deserve. The New Council is taking strides to bring forth something for the citizens that we all can be proud of. We are working hard to make a difference one brick at a time, one community at a time,” she added.

Elliott said the city is offering homebuyer workshops with HUD-certified realtors to address the issue of high rental rates. “While every community needs rental properties, there is an overwhelming number of such properties within our city limits that come with exorbitant rental prices. Although not all rental properties are affected, many fall into that category,” she said.

“I aspire to be a conduit for helping others achieve one of the most significant investments in their lifetime – buying a home,” Elliott said.

The Local Skinny! Baskerville Community Info Series

/by

The second Tuesday of the month community information series meeting is coming up at Baskerville Funeral Home.

Charlie Baskerville, Jr. told WIZS the upcoming presentation titled “Wills and Powers of Attorney” will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the chapel of Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.

The presentation is free of charge and open to the public. Baskerville said, “We look forward to your participation in this important discussion.”

According to information about the event provided to WIZS, Legal Aid of North Carolina will present information about last will and testaments, living wills, financial power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney.

 

CLICK PLAY!