American Flag

“The Local Skinny!” Mar 2; Optimist Club Flag Project Supports Community

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The Henderson Optimist Club invites area businesses to fly an American flag to help fund club projects as they display their patriotism in the community.

Thurman Murphy was on “The Local Skinny!” Tuesday and told John C. Rose that the flag project is one of the ways the club funds its various community projects. New subscribers pay an initial fee of $60, with a $30 annual renewal fee.

“We keep the flags and put them out ourselves,” Murphy said. About 35 businesses, most of them in the downtown area, currently participate. This project has been in existence since the late 1960’s, he said, the brainchild of founding club member Ed White. The club replaces the flag or the pole when the need arises, he said.

Club members put up the flag eight times a year – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day, Murphy said, adding that they sometimes get requests from the Chamber of Commerce or other business associations for the flags to be posted at other special occasions.

The mission of the Henderson Optimist Club is to help the youth in the community, and the club does this through various projects and contests, Murphy noted.

The projects help fund two scholarships awarded to two Vance County students each year. The $1,000 scholarships are renewable for four years. Although the student doesn’t have to attend a school in Vance County, the student must be a resident of Vance County, he explained.

“The Local Skinny!” March 2 Podcast with Thurman Murphy

Other annual contests for high school students are the oratorical contest and the essay contest. Local winners advance to the zone level, and from there, district and then national levels, he said. Winners at the district and national levels are awarded scholarship prizes as well.

Murphy said the “Attend and Win,” contest at the eight county elementary schools gives a pizza party to the classroom at each school with the highest quarterly attendance. That contest has been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he said the project will pick back up as soon as it’s safe to be back in the school buildings.

The local Optimist Club also:

  • sponsors two baseball leagues at the YMCA and the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department;
  • hosts a Christmas party with gifts each year for children at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford;
  • financially supports the Optimist Cottage at the Boys and Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw;
  • hosts the “Respect For Law” project each year and names an officer of the year from the Henderson police department, Vance County sheriff’s office, NC Highway Patrol, Henderson and Vance County fire departments and Kerr Lake park rangers.

To sign up your business to display the American flag, please call Thurman Murphy at 252.432.6847 or email thurmanmurphy@nc.rr.com.

Optimist Club members Dean Thornton and Tommy Farmer also serve on the Optimist Flag Committee.

“The Local Skinny!” Mar 1; Henderson Tree Protection Ordinance

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The Henderson City Council last week adopted an ordinance to protect trees which Development Services Director Corey Williams said will provide guidelines aimed at maintaining buffers for development and tree canopy overhead.

Williams spoke to John C. Rose on The Local Skinny Monday. The new ordinance, 21-06 was adopted unanimously by council members. It replaces a section of city code with prescribed actions and some restrictions, he said. “The intent is to try to preserve the tree canopy and try to leave buffers in place,” Williams said. The ordinance went into effect upon its approval by council on Thursday, he said.

This is a “comprehensive tree protection ordinance that we haven’t had before” he said.

The ordinance replaces Section 17-9 of the City Code “Tree Cutters to Clean up Resulting Debris,” which only applies within the city limits. Although the code protects or manages existing street trees, it does not create a buffer/canopy zone for adjacent property when trees are harvested,” according to the official request to approve the ordinance. The new ordinance serves the city as well as the 2.5-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), Williams said.

The 12-page ordinance spells out situations that require a zoning compliance permit such as listing of all existing and future buffers surrounding a tract, as well as “all work impacting trees on lots designated for non-residential, multi-family residential and mixed use” as well as any impact on trees for single- and two-family residential use where total land disturbance exceeds 5,000 feet.

Podcast of “The Local Skinny!” for March 1 include Corey Williams…Story continues below.

For example, Williams said, a developer who needs to remove a tree or trees may be required to plant trees in the landscape to replace what had to be taken down. There are minimum canopy percentages that apply for different types land use. Multi-family residential and commercial use, for example, have a minimum canopy coverage of 30 percent; industrial districts have a minimum coverage of 20 percent.

Some exceptions to the ordinance include removal of severely damaged or diseased trees and removal of non-native invasive species which are listed within the ordinance.

The ordinance even includes suggestions on choosing which type of tree to plant, Williams noted. Native species such as dogwood, persimmon and pawpaw trees are on the list in the ordinance, for example.

More spelled-out guidance, in conjunction with a comprehensive landscape plan, will help preserve the natural beauty of the area, he said, which makes the area more attractive to folks looking to relocate.

To read the full ordinance, visit ci.henderson.nc.us and find the ordinance under the link to the City Clerk, Williams said.

“The Local Skinny!” Thurs, Feb 25

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On “The Local Skinny!” today, with the podcast audio below:

  • Items for Sale
  • Mark Pace, Thornton Library
  • Vance County Cooperative Extension Service with Jamon Glover

“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594.  Call with items to buy or sell.  Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment.  Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.

Mark Pace, director of the North Carolina Room at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford was the guest on The Local Skinny! on Thursday. He said that while the library has limited access and hours the library is open to the public from 10am to 12 Noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday through Friday and the North Carolina Room is also open, by appointment only, from 10am to 12 Noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday through Wednesday and Friday. The Library is currently allowing 30 minute access to computers along with access to copiers. Tax forms are also available and patrons can use curbside service to check out books.

The North Carolina Room is currently allowing one person or one couple at a time to come into the room to conduct research. Those interested in making an appointment to visit the North Carolina Room can call 919-693-1121 to do so. Pace says, “I’m twice as busy as I was before the pandemic and I’ve doubled the number of patrons.”

Recent additions to the collection at the North Carolina Room include 355 genealogy books from an estate in Maryland, eight boxes of film negatives from the J.B. Clay estate, 100 books from the estate of Elizabeth Hicks Hummel who was a local historian active in the 1950’s and 1960’s, along with what Pace called, “nice cash donations”.

With 46 years of genealogical research experience Pace is available through the North Carolina Room at Thornton Library to help with all types of historical and genealogical research. Once again the phone number is 919-693-1121. Thornton Library is located at 210 S. Main St. in Oxford.

“The Local Skinny!” Wed, Feb 24

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On “The Local Skinny!” today, with the podcast audio below:

  • Items for Sale
  • Herd Immunity
  • Jobs Info from the Local Workforce Board and Desiree Brooks

“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594.  Call with items to buy or sell.  Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment.  Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.

 

“The Local Skinny!” Tues, Feb 23

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“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594.  Call with items to buy or sell.  Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment.  Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.

Below is our rundown for the Tuesday, Feb. 23 show as well as the audio podcast.

11:30 a.m. – Your Calls and Items

11:40 a.m. – Follow Up on Call from Yesterday about Andrea Harris

11:45 a.m. – Sports Flash about High School Playoff Basketball Tonight and High School Football Thursday on WIZS

11:50 a.m. – Vance County Cooperative Extension Report with Paul McKenzie on spring gardening

The Local Skinny! 02-22-21; Brent Montgomery

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(Editor’s note – Just prior to today’s “The Local Skinny!” our “TownTalk” program covered “Covid and Your Heart” with an interventional cardiologist. The fight against covid for two local families was mentioned on air as well.  Avoiding all fanfare and promotion, we tell you today’s guest is Heather Johnson Montgomery.  You will hear her voice after a pair of callers phone in to the show. Also, there is a script below written from Heather speaking about her husband Brent.)

Heather Johnson Montgomery reads every single comment, post and email that comes her way. That she cannot possibly respond to all of them is an indication of the sheer volume of prayers, well wishes and support she and her family continue to receive as her husband, Brent Montgomery, battles COVID-19 at UNC Medical Center.

Montgomery, a NC Highway Patrol trooper, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early February.  He has been in ICU for 11 days and his wife updated his condition Monday on WIZS’s The Local Skinny.

Brent had been on 80 percent oxygen, she noted, and a chest X-ray looked a little worse, “so they started taking some fluid off of him and he’s responded well,” Heather told John C. Rose. The hope today is to continue to wean him from some of the medicines and from ECMO, a treatment that basically performs the job of the lungs and/or heart. ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; the heart-lung machine gives the organs a chance to rest and heal when patients are extremely ill.

“I really believe that he is going to make it home to us,” Heather said, adding that the support the family has received from the community has been, well, a Godsend.

“All you hear is bad things about Henderson,” Heather continued. “But this community has really stood up for my husband and my family. I just can’t express the thanks that we feel and the love we feel and the support we’ve had from our community,” she said.

Prayers continue to pour in “from all over the world,” Heather said, from “people I don’t even know.” She said that, before he was intubated in the hospital, Brent told her to pray for the others sick in the ICU who couldn’t have their loved ones near.

“I have to know that God is in control, and he is going to find a way when I feel like there’s no way” she said. “Somehow, God has given me the strength to push through,” she said. “I don’t want people’s faith to waver.”

The Local Skinny! Thurs, Feb. 18

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The Vance County Democratic Party is sponsoring a drive-through “Hope for the Homeless” on Saturday, Feb. 20 to collect much-needed items for local shelters as part of its mission to serve the community.

“We’re asking the community to support us on Saturday and donate any of these items so that we can, especially during this cold season, be able to help out people who are less fortunate than we are,” said Marcia Allen, chair of the local party. Allen was on “The Local Skinny” Thursday and told John C. Rose that the event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the Perry Memorial Library. The shelters need toiletry items like deodorant and shampoo and household items such as paper towels and trash bags, she said, and everything in between.

The ARC House for Men needs socks, shirts, pants and deodorant. Rising Hope men’s shelter is also in need of men’s shirts and socks, washing powder and soap. Lifeline Ministries shelter for women and children need socks and washing powder, too, she said, as well as dish detergent. The local democratic party is providing masks to both shelters, she added.

One goal of the local party is to be of service to the community as a whole, Allen said, regardless of party affiliation, and to “be a blessing and be of service to the community we live in.”

In addition to participating in events within the community, the Vance County Democratic Party will send three delegates to the upcoming virtual statewide meeting on Feb. 27, and Allen added that anyone interested in participating in a virtual meeting Monday, Feb. 22 to meet the candidates for statewide office should call 252.762.1963 to learn how to access the event.

In addition, the county convention is scheduled for April 10, she said, and she encouraged everyone to get involved at the precinct level. She said the local party is working to get people motivated to volunteer within their voting district. Vance County has 12 precincts, she said. “We want to keep people motivated and interested so that they will come out and vote…in 2022,” she said.

“We’re really excited about extending the invitation to the public,” Allen said, adding that there are many opportunities for the public to participate in party politics.

There are different caucus groups for everyone, she noted, according to age and gender, as well as for college students, people with disabilities and a caucus for people who live in rural areas. There’s a way for everyone to participate, she said.

The Vance County Democratic Party meets the fourth Monday of each month, Allen said. Although the meetings are virtual at this time, Allen said there is a call-in number to use for those who do not have internet access.

Call 252.762.1963 to learn more.

 

The Local Skinny! 02-17-21

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Each broadcast of “The Local Skinny!” invites you to call 492-5594.  You can call with an item you’d like to sell or something you are looking for.  Also, you can call about anything on your mind…a grip, a praise, a news item of interest, a question you’d like to know more about.

And, we’re always ready with local news and information, guests, business spotlights and the latest from Vance County Cooperative Extension.

Run down for Wednesday:

11:30 a.m. – Items to Buy or Sell and your calls

11:40 a.m. – Discussion of impending ice storm

Later this week on the program, guest Marcia Allen, Vance County Democratic Party Chair, on Thursday … plus your calls and items.

Stay tuned and tell a friend!

 

The Local Skinny! 02-16-21

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Each broadcast of “The Local Skinny!” invites you to call 492-5594.  You can call with an item you’d like to sell or something you are looking for.  Also, you can call about anything on your mind…a grip, a praise, a news item of interest, a question you’d like to know more about.

And, we’re always ready with local news and information, guests, business spotlights and the latest from Vance County Cooperative Extension.

Run down for Tuesday:

11:30 a.m. – Items to Buy or Sell and your calls

11:40 a.m. – Michelle Burgess, President of Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce (more info below)

11:50 a.m. – Paul McKenzie with Vance County Cooperative Extension about what works in the garden.

 

Later this week on the program, guests Britt Sams with Sam’s Furniture and Mattress Center Wednesday and Marcia Allen, Vance County Democratic Party Chair, on Thursday … plus your calls and items.

Stay tuned and tell a friend!

In years past the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce would have held the annual chamber banquet in January, but Michelle Burgess, president of the Chamber, said that due to Covid-19 the Chamber realized that holding the banquet last month would be an impossibility. She said, “We don’t see that changing,” in regards to moving the banquet to later in the year. Burgess said that the banquet will go forward at some point either on Facebook or videotaped and shared with chamber members. “It will take place in some form,” Burgess said.  Additionally, the Citizen of the Year award will also continue. The award has been given out since 1970 and Burgess says they will be looking for the community to submit nominations.

When asked how Covid 19 has impacted local business, Burgess said, in regards to local consumers, “They’ve really shopped local, and supported local.” Burgess said businesses such as karate and dance studios, and gyms were impacted the hardest and that the chamber is working with these businesses to help them get back on track. Once Covid-19 finally passes Burgess said, “We are just not going back to normal” and that consumers “will enjoy shopping a lot more than they ever have,” but owners will need to keep areas very clean and continue to use social media and websites more than ever. Burgess also said that the chamber will work with businesses by sponsoring classes to help owners with E-commerce and on-line sales.  For more information the Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 252-438-8414.

 

“The Local Skinny!” Mon, Feb 15

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Each broadcast of “The Local Skinny!” invites you to call 492-5594.  You can call with an item you’d like to sell or something you are looking for.  Also, you can call about anything on your mind…a grip, a praise, a news item of interest, a question you’d like to know more about.

And, we’re always ready with local news and information, guests, business spotlights and the latest from Vance County Cooperative Extension.

Run down for Monday:

11:30 a.m. – Items to Buy or Sell and your calls

11:40 a.m. – Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow about the SAFE initiative (more info below)

11:50 a.m. – Wayne Rowland with Vance County Cooperative Extension about Plant Propagation

And, the show podcast is always available at wizs.com/thelocalskinny and by clicking on the show logo atop wizs.com.

Later this week on the program, guests include H-V Chamber President Michelle Burgess Tuesday, Britt Sams with Sam’s Furniture and Mattress Center Wednesday and Marcia Allen, Vance County Democratic Party Chair, on Thursday … plus your calls and items.

Stay tuned and tell a friend!

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow said Monday that he is hopeful his department’s grant application will get funded to beef up his officers’ ability to target alcohol-related traffic offenses in the city.

Barrow was on the WIZS program The Local Skinny and talked with John C. Rose about the SAFE initiative, which, if funded, would allow police officers to target traffic issues like driving while impaired and speeding. SAFE stands for Speed and Alcohol Field Enforcement initiative. The grant request can be up to $49,201, according to information presented to the city council during its February meeting.

The city council gave the go-ahead for Barrow and his department to apply for the grant, offered by the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program. The department applied last year, but did not receive the grant. This year, Barrow said, department officials consulted with folks at the state level to understand better what a successful grant would look like. “I think we’ve got a better shot this year,” Barrow said. “I’m hoping that we get it.”

If the police department is awarded the grant, the funds would be used to pay for overtime and equipment for a SAFE unit, whose mission would be to focus on reducing traffic accidents and fatalities, Barrow said.

He said he and his department are very lucky to receive a good bit of funding from grants. “If we see something that is attainable,” we go for it.”