The Local Skinny! Tommy Farmer Recognized By The NC Association Of Soil & Water Conservation

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Tommy Farmer has been a member of the local soil and water conservation district for 30 years – he was recently recognized for his decades of service at the annual statewide meeting in Durham.

“Time has really flown by fast,” Farmer said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

As the name implies, a local conservation district helps county residents conserve soil and water – whether that’s by helping to create management plans or helping defray costs of practices that are good for land and water.

“Farmland is disappearing,” Farmer said, which has a direct impact on crop and food production. “Without the soil, we don’t eat,” he said.

The conservation district supports local farmers who may want to plant cover crops – to help keep the soil in place between food crops, create field borders and even pond development or cleanouts.

Farmer, who is the group’s vice-chair, said the conservation district is interested in making sure the soil is in good shape for future crop production and make sure the water supply is suitable for use by farms as well as for drinking.

Vance County is one of 11 counties that comprise District 4 of the statewide conservation group. Franklin and Wake counties also are in District 4, and Farmer said all it takes is a drive along Capital Boulevard to see the burgeoning commercial and residential growth happening there, and you can’t help but think about the additional demands placed on the local water supply.

District 4 doesn’t usually have to deal with issues that other districts face – flooding, for example. “We’re in a good situation here,” he said.

There’s an opening on the local district board, and Farmer said they’ve got their eye on one individual who may be appointed to fill an unexpired term.

Visit www.vancecounty.org and click on Departments to learn more about the programs and services of the soil and water conservation district.

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The Local Skinny! Free Health Clinic Returning To Henderson

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Free medical, dental and vision services are returning to Henderson for a third year in early March when the Duke Remote Area Medical clinic sets up shop at Vance Charter School.

The two-day clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 1 and Sunday, Mar. 2.

The clinic doors open at 6 a.m. each morning and will operate on a first come, first served basis.

Because of possible time constraints, clients can choose either dental or vision services, but are welcome to get one service on one day and the second service on the second day.

Clients can arrive in the parking lot of the school, located at 2090 Ross Mill Rd., as early as midnight on Friday, Feb. 28. Once in the parking lot, clients will receive additional information about the services that are available.

RAM clinics provide these services free of charge; clients will not be asked to show identification or proof of insurance.

Visit www.ramusa.org to learn more.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • The Vance-Warren County Beekeepers Association will have their February meeting on Monday, February 10th at 7pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • The Granville-Vance-Warren Beginner Beekeepers School will have their next session on Saturday, February 15th at 9:00am at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Check the temperatures of your cold frames or greenhouses if you use them. Especially if it’s 70 degrees fahrenheit.
  • Now is a good time to measure your lawn. This way you will know how much fertilizer to purchase.
  • It is not too early to start scouting lawns for cool-season weeds.
  • This time in February, you can still continue planting trees and shrubs.
  • Before purchasing Apple and Peach Trees, do your research. Some of the varieties that you may see in the seed catalogs, some of them may not grow well here in Piedmont North Carolina.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library For February

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People are quick to blame social media for many of society’s ills lately, but Melody Peters, Youth Services Librarian at Perry Memorial Library, gives it credit for a growing interest in crafting. So she’s riding that wave and launching a monthly gathering for young people to learn the art of crochet.

“It is a ‘thing,’” Peters said of the renewed interest in the art of crochet, “and a lot of people are doing it.” The first class is Feb. 18 and will continue monthly.

Sticking with a retro theme, the First Friday program continues this Friday, Feb. 7. Participants will make lava lamps, Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

With materials that include baby oil and Alka-Seltzer tablets, Peters said the craft project /STEM activity will come together.

Pre-schoolers will gather at 10:30 a.m. for the activity, and then a mixed-age group of homeschoolers will convene at 1 p.m. to create their lava lamps.

Mental Health Monday is a a new program that Peters is kicking off on Feb. 17 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s a teacher workday, and students are out of school, so she’s offering a special day for teens – ages 12-20 – to take part in a variety of activities including art therapy, “food for your mood” cooking and some time with animals from the local shelter.

The program is designed to help teens focus on “different ways to boost your mood and feel good,” Peters said.

Later in the month, there will be different scavenger hunts that spotlight Black History Month, she said.

And Vance County Commissioner Valencia Perry will be a special guest for Kids Connect on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

Visit perrylibrary.org for a complete listing of programs, events and services.

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NC SBI

The Local Skinny! Missing Woman’s Remains Found

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— courtesy of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page

“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigations, and with the assistance of the Youngsville Rescue Dive Team, executed searches in Vance County on 1/30/2025. During the search, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office, where they have been identified as the remains of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her disappearance and death are continuing to be investigated. No other information will be released at this time. We would like to thank Sheriff Curtis Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.”

— courtesy of the NC State Bureau of Investigation

“In January 2024, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) regarding a missing person case from 2023. Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on November 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, NC. On January 30, 2025, the Warren County Sheriff’s office, the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the Youngsville Rescue and EMS Dive Team, and the SBI executed searches in Vance County. While conducting a search in a pond near Henderson, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for identification. Those remains were identified as those of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her family has been notified, and the investigation continues. No further details are available at this time.”

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The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Begins ER Renovation Project

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In just about one month, the anticipated $5 million renovation project will begin at Maria Parham Health to enhance the Emergency Department’s ability to provide high-quality care, with special consideration for patients with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

The start date for Phase One is Mar. 3, and hospital officials are ready.

“We are excited to begin this critical renovation that will allow us to enhance patient care and improve outcomes for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Bert Beard, MPH chief executive officer.

During Phase One, the front half of the Emergency Department will be temporarily closed to both patients and staff. This phase should take about 16 weeks, during which all patients destined for the emergency room who arrive by their own means will go to the main entrance for registration, triage and care. Emergency Medical Services entry will be unchanged throughout the project, according to information from MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young.

Beard said the new spaces created during the renovation will allow hospital staff to provide “a unique care environment for those facing behavioral health crises, which is essential for promoting overall health and well-being in our community” while protecting care team members from harm. Beard said violence on healthcare personnel is of growing concern across the industry.

The renovation will provide much-needed designated spaces within the Emergency Department specifically designed to treat behavioral health and mental health patients. This new design will create safer, more effective care environments for these individuals, staff and visitors, reducing the risk of incidents while also increasing the efficiency of the ED.

The project is funded through the Granville-Vance Public Health Department through a partnership with the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville-Vance County Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the N.C. General Assembly.

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Michael Easley, Jr. Stepping Down From U.S. Attorney Eastern District Office

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U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., will step down as attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina on Monday, Feb. 3.

Easley was nominated for the post in 2021 by President Joe Biden and, following Senate confirmation, he was sworn in on Nov. 26, 2021.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, Easley said, “It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home.” The press release did not contain details of Easley’s future plans.

Easley focused on driving down violent crime, white-collar prosecutions, protection of civil rights, and stemming the tide of narcotics into communities across the Eastern District. “We did it through partnering, shoulder to shoulder, with local law enforcement and community leaders to solve our region’s most challenging problems,” he stated, adding that he appreciates prosecutors, judges, law enforcement and staff “who give so much to see justice done every day.”

As the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the 44-county Eastern District that includes Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, Easley has overseen a staff of 119 employees, including 58 attorneys and 61 non-attorney support personnel.  The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics.  The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Throughout his term, Easley and his office have provided information to WIZS News about local cases, and he has even spoken with us as well. Over the years, he has praised the efforts of local law enforcement agencies and said they follow up and do what they say they are going to do.

In a January 2024 TownTalk program on human trafficking, Easley said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame are “reliable partners” and said they both are in his speed dial. He called District Attorney Mike Waters “one of the most forward-leaning prosecutors” he knows. “He’s an incredible partner and somebody I count on to help unravel these cases.”

In an interview Wednesday afternoon with WIZS, Barrow was equally complimentary of Easley, calling him and his office a “great partner” with local law enforcement. “He was easy to talk to…to communicate with. He had our back here (and) has helped us rid Henderson of a lot of violent offenders.”

In an August 2023 interview with WIZS, Barrow said some members of the local police department serve on different federal task forces of the DEA, ATF and the FBI, which provides a path for some cases to be tried in federal court.

“We truly did a big investment into the federal program,” Barrow explained. With input from local district attorneys to decide which cases – usually involving guns and drugs – should go to federal court, Barrow said the trials and sentencing can happen in a “pretty swift” manner.

The main thing, he said, is that “they are removed from our community – they are the worst of the worst.”

Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel of the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, said “U.S. Attorney Easley is the kind of partner every sheriff hopes for – sharp, decisive, and committed to results.  He didn’t just talk about law enforcement partnerships; he made them real, partnering with sheriffs for solutions and backing them up with action.  Under his leadership, we made real progress— violent crime down, overdose deaths falling, and tighter collaboration.  Easley set a new gold standard for what it means to lead in federal law enforcement.”

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(The story text above was originally posted to WIZS.com on 1-29-25 at 7 p.m.)

Home and Garden Show

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

  • The Granville-Vance-Warren Beginner Beekeepers School will be Saturday, February 1st at 9:00am at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Now is a good time to take your gardening equipment out and see if they work. Especially since it is getting warmer. 
  • You need to start planting for your spring garden. When planting, think about the problems that you encountered in  your last planting season.
  • With February approaching, you need to get ready to prune your fruit trees.
  • This is a good time to purchase your seed starting mix. Avoid using garden soil, for best results.
  • Now is the time to clean your planting trays.
  • You still have to continue planting trees and shrubs.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

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U.S. Attorney For Eastern District Of N.C. Announces Whistleblower Pilot Program

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— information courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. has announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.

“In this office, we are focused on enhancing the identification and prosecution of white-collar crime,” Easley said in a written statement released Friday. “The EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program achieves that by incentivizing individuals to proactively come forward with information about crimes taking place within corporations.  The benefit to the participant, if qualified, is avoiding prosecution.  We encourage all who may have information on fraud, corruption, or corporate crime, to fill out the short form on our website.”

To encourage early voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conduct and to promote effective enforcement of criminal laws, the office has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.  The program applies to circumstances where an individual discloses information regarding certain covered subjects identified in the policy to this office, Easley’s statement explained.  Covered subjects include criminal conduct undertaken by or through public or private entities or organizations, including corporations, partnerships, non-profits, exchanges, financial institutions, investment advisers, or investment funds involving fraud or corporate control failures; intellectual property theft and related violations; or offenses affecting market integrity.

The policy also applies to disclosed criminal conduct involving state or local bribery or fraud relating to federal, state or local funds.  The policy does not apply to offenses involving violence.  Provided all policy conditions are met, this office will enter into a deferred or non-prosecution agreement with the whistleblower.

By clarifying the requirements and benefits of such self-disclosure, this office seeks to incentivize individuals (and their counsel) to provide actionable and timely information.  This will, in turn, help us expose more misconduct and better protect the communities we serve.

Find a complete copy of the policy, along with the application at:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/ednc-whistleblower-pilot-program

(Originally posted to WIZS.com Jan. 24, 2025)

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The Local Skinny! Father Daughter Dance Feb. 1 At Henderson Family YMCA

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Fathers and daughters can enjoy a special evening together at the upcoming Father Daughter Dance at the Henderson Family YMCA.

Sponsored by Chick-fil-A, the dance will take place at the Y, 380 Ruin Creek Rd. on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for each dad-daughter pair, but additional daughters can join in the fun for an extra $5. The dance is for girls 5-12 years old and their father or that special male role model in their lives.

Icon Entertainment is providing music for the event.

And don’t forget dinner beforehand! Stop by the Chick-fil-A off Dabney Drive at 200 Trade St. between 5:30 p.m. and 7 for a pre-dance meal. You’ll get one free child’s meal with purchase of an adult meal before heading over to the dance.

Registration is open now and ends Friday, Jan. 31.

Visit https://www.hendersonymca.org/ and scroll down to find the dance under Upcoming Events & Registration.

Contact Director of Membership Tesa Alexander at tesaa@henfamymca.org to learn more.