Perry Memorial Library

Friends Of The Library Book Sale Saturday, May 16 At Perry Memorial Library

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Join the Perry Memorial Library Friends of the Library for a “Back Door Book Sale” on Saturday, May 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The sale will be held in the Friends Room, which is accessed through the door near the book dropbox at the Winder Street entrance.

There are sure to be some great titles for readers of all ages – hardcover books are $1 and paperbacks are just 50 cents. DVD’s and CD’s are $1 each.

The Friends of the Library provides volunteers and funding to support library programs and events.

Visit perrylibrary.org to learn more about Friends of the Library and all the programs and services available at Perry Memorial Library.

N.C. Gov. Stein’s ‘Rural Listening Tour’ Schedules Stop In Henderson Wednesday, Apr. 29

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N.C. Gov. Josh Stein’s Rural Listening Tour continues on Wednesday, Apr. 29 with a scheduled stop in Henderson.

Stein won’t be here in person, though. He’s sending Department of Revenue Secretary McKinley Wooten, Jr. and State Budget Director Kristin Walker to represent him, according to information from the Governor’s office.

The public open session begins at 3:45 p.m. in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College. An invitation-only roundtable discussion is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Last week, the governor announced his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 that advances strategies to support and strengthen opportunity in rural North Carolina.

Earlier this year, Governor Stein launched “100 Counties Strong,” a dashboard highlighting how his administration is investing in people and places across the state.

Learn more about the Rural Listening Sessions at https://governor.nc.gov/josh-stein/investing-rural-nc

Watkins Chicken/BBQ Time 5-1-26

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Who: Watkins Community Volunteer Fire Department

What: Bi-Annual Chicken/BBQ plate sale

When: Friday, May 1st

Where: Watkins Fire Department, 1590 Horseshoe Bend Road, Henderson NC.

Additional Details: Pre-orders are accepted. Contact Justin Simmons at (252) 213-5883 or justin.simmons3092@yahoo.com for more information.

Warren County Transfer Station Closed Thursday, April 23 From 8 A.M. To 11 A.M.

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Notice to Warren County residents

The Warren County Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, Apr. 23 from 8 a.m. to about 11 a.m. to allow for work to be completed on nearby power lines.

County officials expect normal operations to resume after 11 a.m.

 

Vance County Logo

Vance County Commissioners To Meet Apr. 20 At 4 P.M. To Consider Rezoning Request

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, Apr. 20 at 4 p.m. for a special called meeting before its planned work session.

According to the notification, the purpose of the meeting is to consider and take action on a rezoning request that the board, at its Apr. 6 regular monthly meeting, voted to continue.

The rezoning request is for a 40-acre tract along U.S. Hwy. 158 Business west of Henderson, for which the planning board had recommended approval. The zoning would change from EIA – Employment Institutional Area – to LI – Light Industrial.

At the Apr. 6 meeting, about 20 people spoke during the public hearing about the rezoning request; most were not in favor of the rezoning request, and two people spoke in favor.

By state statute, the board of commissioners must have a public comment period during at least one of its monthly meetings. This is a time when the public can address the board on any topic, Vance County Attorney Jonathan Care said.

In the case of the Apr. 6 meeting, Care explained, “There was a public comment period which was not restricted to the rezoning, and then there was a public hearing that was for the rezoning, and the public was restricted to that topic, but you were allowed to speak during both periods.  So we had a public comment period and then a public hearing.”

Chair Carolyn Faines opened the public hearing on the rezoning and that’s when residents came to the podium one at the time to address the commissioners.

Care said there is no requirement for another public comment period this month, “and there is not a requirement to have a public hearing at every meeting a rezoning is going to be discussed.”

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, but there is no scheduled public comment or public hearing included on the agenda.

The meeting and following work session will be available on the county’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUMNYAAhyvKx5leijt5K6Q.

City’s Public Safety Committee Meets Wednesday Afternoon To Discuss Gun Violence

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The Henderson City Council Public Safety Committee will meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss gun violence in the city.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave.

A recent analysis of firearm violence in rural, urban and suburban areas across the state conducted by the Governor’s Crime Commission’s Criminal Justice Analysis Center, has produced a list of findings that state and local leaders can use in their efforts to reduce gun violence.

  • Statewide increases in firearm homicide peaked in 2021 before declining 29% through June 2025. Nonfatal shootings followed similar trends.
  • Firearm suicide remains more prevalent than firearm homicide, with rates highest among older adults in rural counties.
  • Young adults from 20 to 24 years old face the highest rates of interpersonal firearm violence, with elevated risk also seen among populations from 15 to 19 years old and from 25 to 29 years old.
  • Black, non-Hispanic residents experience the highest rates of interpersonal firearm violence statewide, with rural Black communities facing the greatest burden. American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanic residents also experience disproportionately high risk of victimization, and Hispanic residents face higher risk in urban counties.
  • Rural counties reported the highest levels of firearm violence between 2020 and 2024, including homicide, suicide, nonfatal shootings and unintentional firearm deaths.
  • Urban counties matched rural counties in total firearm homicides over the five year period, recording far higher rates of other firearm crime and lower rates of firearm suicide.
  • Suburban counties reported the lowest levels of interpersonal firearm violence, though firearm suicide rates remained the second-highest behind rural counties.

“We now have a clearer picture of when, where and how firearm violence is occurring across North Carolina,” said Caroline Farmer, executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission. “These findings inform state initiatives for grant funding, targeted prevention strategies and policies that address the growing firearm violence in rural areas across our state.”

Drawing on the most recent five years of available data, the analysis identifies trends in firearm homicide, nonfatal shootings, firearm suicide and other firearm-related harms. The findings highlight where prevention and policy efforts may have the strongest impact and illustrate how risk varies across age groups; racial and ethnic communities; and geographic regions.

 

Visit ncdps.gov/cjac to learn more.

Weather-Related Info, Closings, Changes

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(All updates, which were outdated, have been intentionally removed as of 5:45 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026.)

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Public Safety Officials Searching For Two Juveniles

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— from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

UPDATE 7:26 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 19

“…the two missing juveniles have been located and returned home safely. Thank everyone for their concerns.”

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On February 16, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Vance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service at 226 Little Mill Road, Henderson in reference to two missing juveniles.

The missing juveniles have been identified as:

  • Tikayla Gibbs, 16-year-old Black female, approximately 5’2” tall and weighing 120 pounds, brown and red hair.
  • Tyreek Gibbs, 17-year-old Black male, approximately 5’10” tall and weighing 120 pounds, black hair.

Both juveniles were last seen leaving their residence on foot on February 15, 2026.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this incident. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these juveniles is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously through the P3 Tips mobile application.

Cancellations, Closings, Delays

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From WIZS RADIO, 1450AM / 100.1FM

Thank you for following our coverage, and be sure to listen to the Weekday Wake Up with Steve Lewis M-F from 6a to 9a as well as TownTalk at 11a and Local News at 8a, 12p and 5p.

•••••••••

As of 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, coverage inside this post has concluded, and there are no announcements to list at this time.

Sincerely,

johncharles@wizs.com

•••••••••

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Duke Energy: Voluntarily Reduce Energy Use from 4-10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2

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— press release courtesy of Duke Energy

Extremely cold temperatures – 10 to 20 degrees below normal – are driving unusually high energy demand across the East Coast, including the Carolinas. Duke Energy is asking all Carolinas customers to voluntarily reduce their energy use from 4-10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, to help lessen the energy demand on the grid and reduce the potential of temporary power outages.

Customers can help ease strain on the grid by taking the following steps:

  • Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting.
  • Avoid using major appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • Turn off any unnecessary devices, unused plug-ins and lights.
  • Electric vehicle owners: Charge midday, when demand is lower.

“We know it’s inconvenient to reduce electric use, but it makes a real difference.” said Gerald Wilson, Duke Energy vice president of grid operations. “We are taking every step to meet our customers energy needs, including maximizing our generation and purchasing power and working with large commercial and industrial customers who have demand response programs. We appreciate our customers’ cooperation, patience and understanding as we work to maintain reliable service across the Carolinas.”