The Local Skinny! Local Author Katherine Burnette Publishes Poems And Short Story

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Local author and N.C. Superior Court Judge the Hon. Katherine Burnette is busy working on her second book, which she estimates is about two-thirds completed.

The process of writing an entire work of fiction can be a slow one, Burnette acknowledged. So when she needs a break from writing books, she writes poetry and short stories.

Several of her poems have appeared in Deep South, an online publication that features Southern writers.

Her poem The Martins, describes the movements of that insect-gobbling bird. The setting is near the ocean’s shore, and Burnette intentionally indented the lines of her poem to mimic the waves that lap the sandy coastline.

“I find them fascinating,” Burnette said of the martin. They’re very active at dusk, picking insects out of the sky. “Just the way they fly – they have a unique flight pattern,” she added.

Other poems that appear in Deep South include The Edge of the Pool and Gray Tabby.

Visit https://deepsouthmag.com/ to read the poems and https://maudlinhouse.net/ to find her short story, Cast of Characters.

Burnette spoke with WIZS’s Bill Harris on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! to discuss her latest literary efforts.

Her first novel, Judge’s Waltz, was published in July 2021, and it has garnered a couple of awards – one for debut novel and one in the category of Mystery, she noted.

Her second work will be a thriller, not a mystery, she explained.

“If you only have one murder in your book, you can’t call it a thriller,” she said, chuckling. The new novel will be set in Henderson and nearby Oxford, where Burnette lives and will include a new set of characters, although readers of Judge’s Waltz will recognize some characters that make an appearance in the new book.

She uses her experience as a judge to help her when she writes courtroom or investigation scenes, she said. Writing is a way “to relieve stress and to think about something else” after a long day in judge’s robes.

Burnette’s book Judge’s Waltz is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, as well as the brick and mortar Barnes & Noble in The Village District (formerly Cameron Village) in Raleigh and locally at This ‘n’ That on Main Street in Oxford.

Read more at https://katherineburnetteauthor.com/

 

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Vance County Logo

The Local Skinny! Vance Co. Budget Details

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Vance County Commissioners have held a couple of work sessions to discuss the proposed 2023-24 budget and the community will have a chance to chime in during an upcoming June 5 public hearing before commissioners decide whether to adopt it.

The details of the roughly $57.5 million budget are contained in a 131-page document presented by County Manager Jordan McMillen. This is McMillan’s final budget presentation before he leaves his position later this month to become Butner Town Manager in neighboring Granville County.

The budget calls for no increase in the property tax, holding at 89 cents per $100 valuation, as well as appropriating more than $1.5 million from the General Fund to plug a gap between expected expenses and expected revenues. The proposed budget is 4.5 percent more than the 2022-23 budget.

Among the budget highlights are improvements to the county’s fire tax fund, which will provide 24-hour coverage in the north and south of the county – all with no tax increase.

On the revenue side, property tax is up some $63 million, which translates into more than $600,000 in additional tax revenue for the county.

Sales tax continues to be the big leader, with expected revenues projected at close to $2 million more than last year. Sales tax is the second largest source of revenue for the county at 21 percent.

Among the budget’s line items are funding for broadband expansion and the economic development strategic plan, as well as preparing for ongoing and increased costs in the areas of community health, education and workforce development training, to name a few.

In all, the county received requests for $7.4 million more than it was able to provide. If all those funding requests were to be granted, it would mean a 25.9 cent tax increase to county residents.

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Front Porch Bluegrass Show With Tasker Fleming

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Tune in to Tasker Fleming’s Front Porch Bluegrass Show on Sunday evenings on WIZS and you’ll surely find yourself tapping your toes to some familiar songs, featuring fiddles, mandolins and more.

But tune in to the program on Sunday, May 21 at 6 p.m. and you may hear some familiar – and local – artists as well.

Fleming said he plans to mark the second anniversary of the show being aired on WIZS with some nods to all things Henderson.

“I’m going to dedicate the whole show” to Vance County, whether he’s featuring local bluegrass musician Wayne Kinton or reminiscing about eating in local restaurants as a child traveling through Henderson on his way to visit relatives in Virginia.

The show originates from Albemarle, in Stanly County, and it is aired on numerous stations in North Carolina and Virginia. He’s in talks now with a station in Galax, VA. “I’ll offer my show to anyone who wants to listen,” he said.

Folks who tune in on May 21 may just hear him tell the story about his days as a new UNC graduate who landed his first job at Vance Senior High School. The superintendent at the time was Wayne Adcock. Fleming said he was the only employee in the school system who could “boast” of having been paddled by the superintendent.

He’d deserved that paddling, Fleming confessed, when he had been a second-grader with Adcock as his principal.

Fond memories of Nunnery-Freeman and Hereford House restaurants are sure to bring back memories, Fleming noted. And bringing up good memories is part of what the Front Porch Bluegrass show is all about.

“I love doing the show,” Fleming said. “I’ve always had a passion for bluegrass.”

Tune in on Sunday evenings and contact Fleming at frontporchbluegrass21@yahoo.com.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Identify your insect pest before purchasing a control.
  • Read the instructions before purchase.
  • Practice Lawnmower safety. Scout lawn for debris, never refuel a mower when mower is hot,  don’t mow when grass is wet, No extra riders one seat means one person!
  • Don’t override mower safety features.
  • Clean up fallen fruit that may have fallen after
  • Good time to check tree/shrub health. If any trees and shrubs have not put out vigorous new growth by now, it may be time to consider replacing them.
  • Honey bees are still swarming if you see a swarm call Cooperative extension 252-438-8188
  • In general, don’t apply insecticides to plants that are blooming.

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Upcoming Children’s Programs At Perry Library

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Summer is just around the corner, and Perry Memorial Library staff is planning a host of programs to keep youngsters occupied while they’re enjoying their time away from school.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said the library will be a cool spot to visit over the summer, and not just for the air conditioning.

“It’s free – all summer long,” she told WIZS’s Bill Harris during the library’s recurring segment of The Local Skinny!

A new space for teens is being created just outside the Maker Space, Peters said. They’ve ordered some new “cool” furniture for the spot, which will be geared to young people in middle and high school. Teens that take part in the summer reading program will get coupons that they can turn in for sweet summer treats.

The reading program isn’t just for teens, however. There are a variety of ways to track progress – from time spent reading to chapters completed, and participants can come to the library each week to track their progress and get prizes.

“We want everybody to join us,” Peters said. The reading challenge kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13.

The N.C. Cooperative Extension is offering a Lunch and Learn program on Wednesdays for students in grades 6-8. The first session will be Wednesday, June 14, Peters said, and participants will be cooking and making different recipes each week.

And although the Mother Goose storytime is taking a break in May, Peters said the time slot – Thursdays at 11 a.m. – is still a great time for young children to come and take part in some “make and take” craft projects.

“It really is for all ages,” she said, adding that there’s a theme for each week’s projects through the month.

Peters said craft activities are really important ways for youngsters to develop skills that they need at school. “I was hearing from teachers that kids really missed out on some of those skills with scissors, painting“ during the pandemic. “Kids really lost two years of using scissors, using glue – those fine motor skills really do matter.”

Another way young people can use their imagination and develop those fine motor skills at the same time is by coming to the Lego Club. The Club begins June 15 at 4:30 p.m. in the children’s storytime area.

Participants will have the option of “free-build” or they can accept a challenge, Peters said.

“We’re going to try to have challenges and then say, ‘show us what you did,’” she added.

Contact the library at 252.438.3316 to learn more about any of the programs the library offers. Peters’s extention is 226. Or you can visit www.perrylibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook or Instagram.

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Henderson City Council Approves Resolution to Name Bridge in Memory of Master Trooper

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The Henderson City Council unanimously approved a resolution to name a bridge in Vance County in memory of Master Trooper James “Brent” Montgomery.

The action item appeared on the Council’s agenda Monday night. The resolution calls for the I-85 bridge at Satterwhite Point Road to be named in memory of Montgomery.  He died in March 2021 from complications of COVID-19 at age 50.

He had been a trooper for 15 years in Vance, Warren and Franklin counties, and before joining the Highway Patrol had worked with the local sheriff’s office and police department.

“As a dedicated public servant, he was exemplary in the performance of his duties and an inspiration to all who knew him,” according to information included in the Council’s agenda packet.

A portion of the resolution reads:

WHEREAS, the Henderson City Council desires to honor former North Carolina State Trooper and dedicated public servant James “Brent” Montgomery; and

WHEREAS, Master Trooper Montgomery served the North Carolina Highway Patrol in Vance, Warren and Franklin counties with diligence and honor for 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Master Trooper Montgomery served as Field Training Officer, Traffic Crash Instructor, Taser Instructor and had charge over the School of Safety Program; and

WHEREAS, after enduring a difficult battle with Covid-19, James Brent Montgomery, at 50 years old,
passed away on March 15, 2021; and

WHEREAS, personally and professionally, Master Trooper Montgomery was loved and respected for his exemplary conduct and service to the community.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Henderson City Council does hereby request the North Carolina Board of Transportation name the Satterwhite Bridge over I-85 for the late Master Trooper James ‘Brent’ Montgomery.”

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WIZS Pop The Hood: Batteries

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— for our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts

Unless you’re really into vehicles and how they work, you may think all car batteries are alike. By asking just a few simple questions about your particular driving habits, the knowledgeable team of employees at Henderson’s two Advance Auto Parts locations can help you choose the right battery for your vehicle.

In this first installment of “Pop the Hood,” Advance Auto Parts District Manager Jay Matthews explains a bit about choosing the right battery for your needs.

Running a lot of errands each day and stop and start your vehicle often? Have you tricked out your car or truck with lots of electronics? The Advance Auto Parts employees aren’t being nosey, Matthews said. “What they’re trying to do is determine the best battery for you.”

It’s important that your car’s battery provide adequate cranking power – and that varies with the seasons, he noted.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is what it takes to crank your vehicle at 70 degrees is totally different from what it takes at 30 degrees.”

Drivers are welcome to come to either location – 400 Prosperity Drive just off Dabney Drive or 390 Raleigh Road – to get a complimentary battery or alternator check, just to make sure things are operating properly.

Preventive maintenance is just one way to reduce the chance that your vehicle is going to leave you stranded.

Sometimes it’s not the battery that needs replacing, Matthews said. Sometimes, the corrosion that occurs when acid leaks from the battery ends up on the terminals and in the battery cables.

“On most vehicles, we do free installation of batteries,” he said. Some vehicles have batteries in tricky places that just aren’t safe to install in a store parking lot. The folks at Advance Auto can look up the information quickly to determine which vehicles that don’t qualify for the free installation.

Advance has free curbside services to offer battery checks, as well as wiper replacement and check engine light scans. And the stores offer a 10 percent military discount.

Check out “Pop the Hood” every other Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on WIZS

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • When seedlings emerge check for areas that might need reseeding.
  • Should you skip mowing this month?
  • Start checking for insect pests and signs of disease.
  • Make sure you have a good nitrogen only fertilizer on hand for vegetable gardens and flower beds. These areas may need supplemental nitrogen through the season. Blood meal is an excellent choice, organic and slow release.
  • Check out your irrigation system
  • Do you have garden areas that won’t be used this year? If so, plant a cover crop.
  • Don’t over water plants check soil media first if it is moist wait another to water your plants
  • It is way past the recommended date for fertilizing and seeding tall fescue, as well as spraying for broadleaf weeds.
  • Wear sun protective clothing even on cloudy days.
  • Growing vegetables in containers? Use large container that are clean, plus good quality potting mix. Never use soil from yard or garden.

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The Local Skinny! Shriner’s Fish Fry Is Scheduled For May 17th

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The Tri-County Shriner’s Fish Fry is on again for its traditional third Wednesday in May and area Shriners are gearing up for another long, but productive day, with delicious results for its patrons.

Plates are $10 each – take-out only – and sales will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17, said chairman Vernon Mustian.

Mustian and Donald Seifert were guests on WIZS “The Local Skinny!” to talk up the 59th fish fry.

You just may spy Mustian near the cookers on Fish Fry Day. “I have been cooking there for awhile,” he acknowledged. He holds the club’s office of First Vice President, but the club also put him in charge of the whole event this year. “It is a chore,” he said, adding that his admiration has grown for those who have organized past events.

“We try to put out a good plate,” Seifert said. “The price is reasonable and if we have good weather, I’m sure we’ll have a good turnout.”

Drive out to 210 Industry Drive near Lowe’s and Mako Medical to pick up plates. Delivery is available for 10 or more plates. Call 919.369.0316 to make delivery arrangements.

You can buy tickets in advance or purchase plates at the take-out tent.

“We are hoping to raise more than last year, “ Mustian said. “We had a good year last year, and we’re looking for a big number – at least $10,000.”

Shriner Henry Gupton told WIZS in an earlier interview that all proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Greenville, SC.

THIS  STORY WAS ORGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2023 AND IS BEING RE-POSTED FOR VIEWING AT THIS TIME.

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Volunteers Join Voices To Read Bible Aloud From Genesis To Revelation May 3

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About a dozen local churches are taking part in this year’s Public Bible Reading Day. If everything falls into place like it’s supposed to, volunteers will have read the Bible – from start to finish – by the end of the day.

This special day happens Wednesday, May 3 and it is specifically timed to take place around the National Day of Prayer, which is observed on the first Thursday in May.

Lois Murphy told WIZS that the different churches in the area already have been assigned their books of the Bible.

COVID has thrown a monkey wrench of sorts into the plan that organizers have of reading aloud in public, Murphy said.

“We read aloud and we read publicly if we can,” Murphy said. “COVID has shut down some of the public reading, and some churches still have some COVID restrictions in place,” she said.

Because of this, volunteers have the option of reading in their church or from the comfort of their own homes.

“I would like to see people reading…at the plaza at the courthouse, maybe at a downtown location, even in stores or businesses, if they would permit us,” she mused.

The way it works is pretty simple: Each church gets a section of scripture that can be read in 15 minute increments. The whole Bible is divided into 15-minute segments. After a quick calculation, Murphy said it would take about four hours to read Genesis and another three to get through Exodus.

Here is a list of local churches that will be participating in the Reading Day:

First Baptist Church

First United Methodist Church

Union Chapel

Island Creek

Clearview Church

Harriet Baptist

Fuller Chapel

Cotton Memorial

Blessed Hope

West End

South Henderson

New Sandy Creek

Murphy suggested that anyone interested in joining in the read-aloud contact one of the churches listed above to get more information.

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