Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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Perry Memorial Library is offering up some special treats during February, from classic movies in the history room to chocolate fondue and meeting Henderson’s mayor, Melissa Elliott.

During Black History Month, patrons can enjoy watching a curated movie list, said Melody Peters, youth services director.

As part of African American and the Arts programs, the library will show movies on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

“It’s a great opportunity to get folks into the building,” she said, and to let the community know “we’re more than books.”

Young people will get a chance to meet Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott at the Kids Connect session on Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.

Elliott, the city’s first Black and first female mayor, will share a story with the group and then take questions from her young audience. Peters said she always has been interested in ways to get children interested in local government, and Elliott’s visit is a good start.

Next Tuesday, Feb. 13, the monthly Life Hack program kicks off at 4 p.m. and combines creating a found object art project with chocolate fondue. Some folks may ask why? Peters turns it around and says: “Why not?”

Discover the complete listing of events, activities and programs the library offers at https://www.perrylibrary.org/

 

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Mike Waters

The Local Skinny! Waters Announces Life Sentence For Oakes

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– information courtesy of Vance County District Attorney Mike Waters

A Vance County man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty last week of first-degree murder, according to a press release from the office of District Attorney Mike Waters.

On Thursday, Feb. 1, in Vance County Criminal Superior Court, Jarred Robert Oakes was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, following his conviction of first-degree murder of his mother, Geraldine Oakes.

Oakes is the oldest son of Geraldine Oakes, who was found unresponsive in the family home on Friendly Lane on May 24, 2017. At the time, investigators found evidence that the victim had been strangled. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from law enforcement officers, lay persons and expert witnesses.

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The Local Skinny! City Council’s Special Called Meeting

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In a special called meeting on Jan. 22, the Henderson City Council heard a couple of rezoning requests and gave the green light to a $6.1 million project to address “major infiltration and inflow issues” at the Sandy Creek Basin.

H.G. Reynolds Co., Inc. was the sole bidder for the Sandy Creek Basin project, coming in at $6,149,697. Recent heavy rains have caused overflow of untreated wastewater from pump stations into area tributaries.

The project will be paid for with $5 million in 0 percent state funding that has already been awarded for the project, along with a $2.5 million federal ARPA grant.

Council members also approved a rezoning request for a tract on Carey Chapel Road from R-15 (moderate to low density residential) to R-11 (moderate density residential).

Thomas Hutton & Engineering Company made the request for part of the Carey Chapel subdivision, which has two different zoning districts. The request was to make the entire tract of almost 50 acres R-11.

The council approved the request.

The second rezoning request was to grant a special-use permit to allow Vaya Health to put a Diversion Center in the space in a location zoned for commercial use.

Vaya Health wants to convert the former Big Lots building on Dabney Drive into a 16-bed facility that provides support for people with mental health illnesses and substance use disorders.

Although the Planning Board recommended approval of the matter, but Council tabled the issue until it could get more information.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Get your equipment ready to start seeds indoors, Grow lights, media, starting trays
  • Ok to begin pruning ornamental trees, but only if they need it (mention CM).
  • Clean and sharpen your pruning equipment
  • Plant blueberries. Consult NCSU recommendations.
  • Check your house plants for disease and insects,dust with a soft cloth
  • Treat lawns for broadleaf weeds as soon as weather is favorable.
  • Check stored fruits and vegetables
  • Avoid using lawn fertilizer that is combined with an insecticide.
  • Check storage areas for mice.
  • Time your seed starting carefully.

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The Local Skinny! Rebuilding Hope Uses Crosses To Help Get The Message Out

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In the February newsletter, local nonprofit organization Rebuilding Hope shines a spotlight on a volunteer whose creativity adds a special touch to the work that goes into building wheelchair ramps and other home repair projects across the area.

Van Splinter makes wooden crosses, which the Rebuilding Hope volunteers have been distributing when they’ve gone out into the community to do their work.

“From the beginning of the ministry we’ve presented a Bible,” Rebuilding Hope coordinator Randolph Wilson said in the newsletter story. “The generosity of Van Splinter has added greatly to the ministry.”

Splinter, himself retired from his job in construction, said he heard about Rebuilding Hope and its mission when Wilson came and spoke at Splinter’s church, Rock Spring Baptist Church, in Townsville.

He estimates that he’s given away as many as 500 of his hand-crafted crosses, each about a foot tall, and he keeps a good supply in his truck to give away. He’s also made a smaller version for each active member of his church.

The crosses are made from scrap lumber, but he also makes flags, serving trays, cutting boards and more that he sells. He puts all his proceeds from sales of those items toward buying more materials.

You can find Splinter most Saturdays at his roadside stand in Townsville.

Learn more about Rebuilding Hope at  www.Rebuildinghopeinc.org.

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The Local Skinny! North Henderson Baptist Presents ‘A Night To Shine’

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North Henderson Baptist Church is looking forward to being a part of what arguably may be considered the biggest prom night in the world. The church is one of more than 700 locations across the globe that will be hosting “A Night to Shine” on Friday, Feb. 9 and the Rev. Eddie Nutt said prom attendees should expect to get “the absolute royal treatment.”

Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, “A Night to Shine” is in its 10th year of providing a prom experience for individuals with special needs, Nutt said on Tuesday’s TownTalk – a segment of society often overlooked when it comes to fun stuff like proms and such.

The prom is for individuals 14 and older with special needs, Nutt explained. They’ll walk the red carpet, get a limo ride around the block and enjoy an evening filled with food, music and dancing – with photographers and videographers on hand to capture those special moments. The prom will begin at 6 p.m. and will end about 9 p.m.

And all this is “to show them the love of Christ,” Nutt said, “that they are loved and they do have value.”

The goal is to have 75 folks attend the prom, and Nutt said there will be a respite room for parents or other caregivers who may want to stay close while their loved ones enjoy a few hours of music and dancing.

Please register by Friday, Feb. 2 so organizers can plan to have enough food and nametags – not to mention crowns and tiaras.

 

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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood Changing A Tire

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For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Count yourself lucky if you’ve never had to change a tire on your vehicle.

Count yourself luckier still if someone taught you how to change a tire, just because it was something you needed to know.

Thursday’s Pop the Hood segment features some key reminders about being safe when changing a tire, especially if you’ve been stranded by the side of the road.

It’s tricky enough to remember all the steps when you’re in your level driveway on a sunny day when the temps are mild and there’s no rain in sight.

But blowouts never occur when it’s convenient, so it’s vital to keep safety in mind when you’ve got to remove one tire and put another one on.

First of all, make sure the jack is rated for your vehicle and is properly placed before you attempt to lift the vehicle- don’t use cinder blocks to hold up a car. It’s a bad idea.

Once you’ve got the bad tire off and you’re ready to mount the spare in its place, make sure it’s properly seated. Seat the tire by putting the first two lug nuts on hand-tight. Then introduce the other three lugs and tightening every other one until you’ve gotten them all. The tightening pattern to remember is 1, 3, 5, 2, 4.

It’s a process that takes time, but it’s worth it to get the torque specifications right – too loose, you’ve got problems. Too tight, different problems.

If the circumstances aren’t right, the main order of business is to get the vehicle safely off the road and get help.

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Get your equipment ready to start seeds indoors, Grow lights, media, starting trays
  • Get a good quality grow light if you will be trying to start seeds indoors.
  • Clean and sharpen your pruning equipment
  • Get ready to prune grapevines.
  • Check your house plants for disease and insects,dust with a soft cloth
  • Treat lawns for broadleaf weeds as soon as weather is favorable.
  • Check stored fruits and vegetables
  • Consider using granular weed preventers in flower, shrub and even vegetable beds.

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Vance County Logo

Vance Commissioners Approve Pay Raises For Finance Director, Manager

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners has approved pay raises for the county’s finance director and county manager.

Katherine Bigelow, the county’s finance director, is seeing a $25,000 jump in her salary to $136,503, according to information from County Manager Renee Perry.

As Perry explained in an email on Monday to WIZS News, another county had offered Bigelow a job – and a “significant raise to go along with it,” Perry said.

“I felt we could keep her if we were able to eliminate the financial incentive for her (to) accept the position,” and the board agreed to the salary increase.

“Katherine brings much-needed experience to Vance County and I wanted to retain her on staff,” Perry said.

In their discussions, Perry said her $15,000 increase in pay was approved because commissioners “wanted to ensure the compensation for their manager still exceeded that of the finance director for internal equity purposes.”

Bigelow’s bump in pay also brings with it a new title: She now serves as deputy county manager/chief financial officer.

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Study: McGregor Hall Huge Boost For City’s Economic Health

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As McGregor Hall gears up for another jam-packed season of concerts, plays and more, its Executive Director Mark Hopper knows that a well-attended event at the downtown venue creates a big ripple effect felt throughout the city.

And Hopper has a study to back him up.

Well, it’s in draft form, but the board got the initial results at the meeting earlier this week.

“The numbers that we see, so far, are very exciting,” Hopper said during Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny.”

A previous economic impact study looked at a 12-month period during 2018-2019, and results indicated that McGregor Hall contributed just shy of $3 million to the city’s economy.

The most recent study looks at the 4-year period between 2019 and 2022 and it states that McGregor Hall contributed about $15.6 million during that time. And, Hopper reminded, two of those years the venue was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When folks come to a competition, show or concert in downtown Henderson, there’s a good chance that they’re going to find a restaurant or lodging, too, Hopper said.

Those meals and overnight stays add up over time and put more money in local businesses and tax revenues as well.

One revision Hopper and the board would like to see is a year-by-year breakdown so they can have a better idea of impact per year.

The study is looking only at McGregor Hall’s impact within the city limits, but Hopper said the county surely benefits as well and folks in the tourism department are always happy to talk up events at McGregor Hall.

“Pam (Hester) has been on our team since Day 1,” Hopper said. “She’s been a great advocate for us.”

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Coming up at the end of January, legendary beach music band The Tams will perform, followed by some beach music with a West Coast flavor when Sail On – The Beach Boys Tribute comes to town on Friday, Feb. 9.

McGregor Hall will host Contemporary Christian musician Michael W. Smith on Thursday, Mar. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

“This is a big one for us – we’re on his national tour,” Hopper said.

And comedian Karen Knotts will take the stage on Sunday, Mar. 17 for a matinee performance called “Tied Up In Knotts,” a time to entertain the audience with stories about her dad, Don Knotts.

Visit mcgregorhall.org for a complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets.