Bill Harris and Mark Pace, joined by Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue, talk about the Famous Sports Figures and Teams from the Old Granville County Area on this edition of Around Old Granville.
(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)
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Dave Jennings first learned about Optimist Clubs more than 20 years ago, when he was head football coach at Southern Vance High School.
At the time, Southern Vance played crosstown rival Northern Vance in the Optimist Bowl, and Jennings led his Raiders to four wins over the Vikings between 2002 and 2006.
Optimist International, Jennings learned then, was all about putting youth first. And this year, as the 2026-27 Governor of the North Carolina East District of Optimist International, Jennings leads 27 clubs as they continue to fulfill the mission of providing hope and positive vision to bring out the best in youth and in the communities they serve.
“Everything that we do, we do for the youth of the community of Henderson and Vance County,” Jennings said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. “When I was introduced to that and I realized that this was a civic organization that did stuff for kids, and I was already a teacher and football coach, I decided it would be a perfect avenue for me to give back.”
The local club sponsors an Attend and Win program that awards a quarterly surprise party – pizza or ice cream – to the homeroom with the highest attendance.
They give two $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors, that are renewable each year. Currently the club has six full-time scholarship kids who are college students now, Jennings said. They donated 100 bike helmets to be distributed at a Turning Point CDC event and are providing Christmas gifts for a number of children at Masonic Home for Children in Oxford.
They also award a $1,000 mini-grant to a Vance County school that submits an application for an innovative program or project.
“We always try to make sure that we award the school that is doing something that’s super innovative for the kids,” Jennings said.
Youth are the focus of the Optimist Club and young people are at the heart of its mission. But Jennings said he’s looking for young members, too, to join the local club so that it can continue to do good things for young people.
“We need people to come out and support us,” he said. “Every person, every new hand brings a new excitement and a new invigoration to us and much more ideas that we can do to serve our kids.”
He held a leadership development training session with younger members last month at their convention in South Carolina as a way to foster new leaders and get them ready to take over in leadership roles.
“The greatest thing about the leadership development is it unlocks leadership potential with resources, training and succession planning tools for current and future club officers,” he added. “We’re always looking for that.”
It all boils down to adults being interested in guiding and teaching the next generation of givers and advocates. And with a motto like “a friend of youth,” the Optimists are surely on the right path.
“We really want to do the best that we can for the kids in our community,” Jennings said. And, you know, when I say we’re a friend of youth, we are a friend of youth because we believe in the kids in our community.”
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The Medicare Open Enrollment period began a couple of weeks ago and runs through Dec. 7 – it’s a time for Medicare beneficiaries to try to figure out if they need to change anything about their plan for 2027.
There are so many options – how do you choose? Well, if you ask Kerr-Tar COG Regional Ombudsman Kimberly Hawkins or Vance County Medicare Coordinator Amber Gregory, they would probably suggest you make an appointment with someone who can guide you to what works best for your individual situation.
Gregory said, “I think my number one question is, and I get it every year, is basically, ‘What the heck do I do?’”
As for the annual process, Hawkins acknowledged it can be confusing. “It appears cumbersome – ‘cause it is,” she said. “But it’s doable.”
It’s not something that beneficiaries have to do alone, she said. Getting non-biased guidance from people trained in the process is vital, Hawkins said.
Gregory and Hawkins were guests on Tuesday’s TownTalk and shared some helpful suggestions about scheduling a time to meet with people who can help beneficiaries decide if they are better of keeping what they have or changing plans.
The health coverage that most people associate with traditional Medicare consists of three parts, Hawkins explained. Parts A, B and D. Part A is for hospital coverage, and Part B is, generally speaking, outpatient coverage. Part D covers prescription drugs.
Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage plans, may be something you’d like to consider.
Again, Hawkins said, if you’re unsure of the choices you want to make, “I would say meet with a counselor early.”
You can sign up to speak with a SHIIP counselor at your local Senior Center, or you can communicate with KTCOG or Medicare to learn more.
Call 866.506.6223 to schedule a meeting.
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Forty years ago, Ricky Easter began his journey with Victory Baptist Church. As Easter reflects on 40 years at the same church, he said plenty has changed and plenty remains the same.
Over the past four decades, Easter said he has literally watched generations come and go.
There are adults serving in church who were not even born when Easter and wife Debbie came on the scene.
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No doubt there was a throng celebrating the Easters Sunday for Pastor Appreciation Day, and Easter said folks went over and beyond to show their love with testimonies, singing and gifts.
“It was just an amazing day, an overwhelming day to us,” he said on Monday’s TownTalk.
He said that although he’s entertained the idea of going somewhere else over the years, God just saw fit to keep him in Henderson.
His pastor once told him that as long as he can say, “’I know I’m right where the Lord wants me to be,’ then you can withstand any storm that comes your way,” Easter said.
Since 1990 or so, Victory Baptist Church’s service has aired on WIZS at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Easter said he often gets “recognized” at the grocery store or other places in the community because people know that familiar voice that comes through the radio.
“You don’t ever really know who’s listening,” he said.
Whether you’re listening from the pews of Victory Baptist or tuned in to the radio, Easter said he wants people to know one thing: “I love the Lord and I stand firmly for the gospel of Christ, and that our church also does the same.”
The faces may have changed over the years, but Easter’s message to his congregation remains the same. “I don’t try to promote myself. I always try to exalt the Lord and carry the gospel and try to encourage other people,” he said.
“I try to stay out of the way and let the Lord be the forefront of everything that we do.”
Many people find themselves in the position of providing care for a family member who’s aging or who’s been diagnosed with a chronic health condition like dementia or Alzheimer’s. It may not have been something they’d planned for, but they’re doing their best.
“Caregiving is a tough journey,” said Michael Patterson, family caregiver specialist with Kerr-Tar Council of Governments. “It’s not something that everyone necessarily signs up for…it’s a duty that takes a lot of emotions.”
The 4th annual Family Caregiver Conference, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Civic Center auditorium, is a perfect opportunity for individuals to come and learn more about this business of providing care to loved one that, at times, can be physically and emotionally demanding.
The doors open at 9 a.m. and participants will get a swag bag of goodies, as well as breakfast and refreshments, Patterson said.
Registration is $10 for family caregivers; $25 for professional caregivers, who also can receive up to 1.5 continuing education credits for attending.
Register online at www.kerrtarcog.org or visit any of the senior centers in the five-county KTCOG service area (Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties) and sign up there, Patterson said. Phone him at 252.436.2040 x6072 or email him at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org
This year’s speakers include a Duke University researcher who will discuss the importance of oral health care for people with disabilities, a husband and wife team – both health professionals – who will talk about their book and tell their story about caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s and the founder of an organization that focuses on the over-prescription of medications and the importance of having regular medication reviews.
There’s a lot of responsibility that goes along with providing care for a loved one, Patterson said.
“There’s no manual or instruction booklet,” he continued. And caregiving looks different for every individual because every individual has their own story and own journey.
He wants caregivers to give themselves the grace to know one thing: “You’re already doing your absolute best and that should be enough…the simple fact that the caregiver has taken their intentional time to care for a loved one is commendable and they need to be appreciated for that.”
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The United Way of Vance County is hosting a business luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 29 as a way to share what it’s all about and to learn about how individuals and businesses can help support the programming it provides – all while enjoying a complimentary and tasty lunch.
The luncheon will be held from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at Southern Charm Event Center in downtown Henderson.
According to United Way Board of Directors President Helen Bradby, “If you are a local citizen of Warren or Vance County and you are engaged in your community, we are asking that you come out and learn about your United Way.”
The local United Way has no paid staff members, which is good news as far as financial donations go. No administrative overhead means more money goes back into the community, she explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
“Honestly, we just don’t have much overhead. We have about 11 members on our board, and we are 100 percent volunteers, so we have no paid staff members,” Bradby said.
They had to hit the “pause” button on giving grants last spring because they just didn’t have sufficient funding.
“When we give out these grants, we’re going to make sure the amount is enough for it to be meaningful and that it is actually going to make an impact within that agency,” Bradby said.
This year, so far, hasn’t been great, but “we’re not doing bad,” she said of donations received.
The United Way provides grant funding to agencies and others whose mission is to help disadvantaged families. Bradby said grants support education, children and young adults, health and nutrition, physical activity and financial stability.
Examples of previous grant recipients include ACTS of Vance County, Community Partners of Hope, Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, Lifeline Ministries and Spoken Existence Ministries.
Bradby said she’s grateful to Brightspeed for sponsoring the luncheon, which will be catered by Warren County’s C and L Catering.
Visit https://unitedwayvance.org/ to learn more. There’s a QR code on the website to register to attend the luncheon, or you can call 252.213.7466 or email unitedwayofvance@gmail.com
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The Vance County Detention Center remains under state scrutiny and in corrective action for numerous ongoing deficiencies that include the physical plant, staffing shortages, overpopulation and lack of safety and security for detainees and jail employees.
Officials with the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services called a meeting with Sheriff Curtis Brame, the county commissioners and other county leadership, which was held on Oct. 15 in Henderson to discuss next steps and possible consequences for the county’s seeming lack of action in addressing the deficiencies.
Vance County Board of Commissioners Chair Carolyn Faines told WIZS News Tuesday that the meeting “provided an opportunity to discuss recent events at the jail, the repairs, inmate population reduction, recruitment challenges, and other related concerns.”
Faines said County Manager Renee Perry would provide an update at the November regular meeting of commissioners, scheduled for Nov. 2.
In a letter dated Oct. 2 and signed by N.C. DHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai, the county has 30 days from the date of the letter to fix the problems or the detention center could face closure. That deadline is two weeks away.
The letter is available on the county’s website at https://www.vancecounty.org/vcdc/.
WIZS News followed up with numerous county leaders who were cc’d on the letter for details of the meeting and the county’s next steps.
District Attorney Mike Waters, who attended the meeting with two others from his office, said jail population census and strategies to reduce the number of detainees was discussed.
“They also shared ongoing concerns with the recruitment and retention of corrections officers,” Waters said.
“We discussed challenges our office faced in getting to pleas and trials with a lack of defense attorneys and a lack of access by in custody defendants to attorneys, in custody defendants being brought to court, timely submission of evidence for testing and delivering reports to prosecutors. Our office discussed past processes that proved successful and other suggestions we hope are incorporated into an action plan,” he said.
Brame told WIZS News that he made sure to point out that “these issues didn’t occur overnight and it’s going to take coordinated efforts in addressing DHHS concerns.” As he has stated before, funding for salaries must be looked at to attract and retain staffing, as well as training and education.
He said he believes DHHS will continue to provide assistance going forward.
Waters said DHHS will be creating an action plan for the detention center and Brame, who, as sheriff, has responsibility for the jail’s operations.
A spokesperson for NCDHHS said last week’s meeting “marked a step forward in the collaboration needed to improve the safety and well-being of people who are incarcerated at the facility. The group reaffirmed its commitment to work together to build a plan that addresses the immediate infrastructure and staffing needs while ensuring a long-term strategy for sustainable improvements at the facility.”
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The intersection with U.S. 158 Bypass and Poplar Creek Road is set to undergo a transformation Wednesday as NCDOT crews install stop signs to create a new all-way stop.
Stop signs are already in place on Poplar Creek Road.
Work will take place on Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Drivers should allow extra travel time and be mindful of crews working in this area, according to information from a NCDOT spokesperson.
NCDOT crash data shows all-way stops improve driver safety with minimal impacts to travel time. Drivers approaching an all-way stop should follow these rules:
The first vehicle to the intersection has the right of way ahead of any vehicle that has not yet arrived;
When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way;
The vehicle with the right of way may move straight ahead or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right;
When two facing vehicles approach an intersection at the same time, both drivers can move straight ahead and turn right. If one driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver who wants to turn left must yield. The driver who is traveling straight ahead has the right of way;
Even with the right of way, remember to use the appropriate turn signals and be careful to avoid hitting other vehicles and/or pedestrians.
The WIZS News team strives to bring the community important information through fair, objective and balanced reporting. We sent a list of questions to candidates in contested seats for Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education. Early voting in Vance County begins Thursday, Oct. 15 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Below are questions sent to Angela Cooper Lyons and Hailey Breeze Macklin, candidates for the District 7 seat on the Vance County Board of Education:
Here are their unedited responses to those questions, which appear in alphabetical order.
Responses from Candidate Angela Cooper Lyons:
God helped guide my decision to run for the Vance County Board of Education. My decision was shaped by the recurring concerns surrounding our children and the future of Vance County Public Schools. With my lifelong connection to this community and my passion for serving children and families I felt led to step forward and be a voice for our students, parents, and the community. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and I want to be part of making a positive difference in their educational journey.
My platform is “Stronger Schools.” Brighter Futures.”
*Our Children. Our Schools. Our Future”
(1) Put Students First.
Every student deserves access to a quality education, a safe and supportive learning environment, and the opportunity to succeed. Student achievement, individual learning needs, and the overall well-being of our children must remain the school district’s highest priorities.
If elected, I will advocate for policies and decisions that put students first. I will support efforts to improve academic achievement, address barriers to learning, promote safe schools, and ensure students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential. I will listen to parents, students, teachers, and school staff to better understand their concerns and work collaboratively toward solutions that improve educational outcomes.
(2) Support Teachers and Strengthen Our Schools
Teachers and School staff are essential to student success. They need the support, resources, and working conditions necessary to educations are supported, our schools and students benefit.
I will advocate for providing teachers with the resources and classroom support they need, listening to their concerns, and recognizing their important role in our children’s education. I will support responsible efforts to recruit and retain qualified educators, strengthen professional development, and address challenges that affect teacher morale and retention. I believe teachers should have a meaningful voice in discussions about the needs of our schools.
(3) Demand Transparency and Fiscal Accountability
Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability in how public education funds are managed and spent. our community should have confidence that financial decisions are responsible. clearly explained, and focused on the educational needs of our students.
If elected, I will ask thoughtful questions, carefully review budgets and expenditure, and advocate for clear communication about how education funds are allocated and used. I believe public education dollars should be invested in strengthening our public schools and supporting students, teacher, and classrooms. I will promote open decision-making, responsible financial oversight, and accountability to the families and taxpayers we serve.
My beliefs are rooted in my faith, my lifelong connection to this community, and my passion for serving children and families. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with putting students first, supporting our teacher, and strengthening our schools.
I am passionate about making sure public education funds are used responsibly with transparency and accountability. I believe we must listen to our parents, teachers, and community and work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of our children.
As a graduate of Vance County public schools, former student bus driver, and a substitute teacher, I have firsthand experience with our school system.
I bring more than 12 years of service as a Guardian ad Litem advocate, community leadership experience, and over 33 years of service with the State of North Carolina in health and human services.
These experiences have taught me the importance of advocating for children, listening to families, documentation, accountability, and working with people from different backgrounds. I will bring that knowledge, along with my lifelong connection to this community, to the Board of Education, keeping students first , supporting teachers, and promoting transparency and responsible decision-making.
If elected, my first goal would be to listen, learn, and understand the needs of our students, teachers, parents, and school staff. I want to review current priorities, advocate for student success, support our teachers, and promote transparency and accountability in how public education funds are spent.
My long-term goal is to help strengthen Vance County Schools by improving student achievement, supporting teacher recruitment and retention, and ensuring our schools have the resources needed to prepare students for college, careers, and life. I want to help build trust with our community and ensure that every decision keeps our children’s best interests at heart.
My vision is to work toward lasting improvements that benefit our students, strengthen our schools, and create brighter futures for generations to come.
I want voters to know that my commitment to children, families, and this community is not new. It is reflected in my years of public-service, child advocacy, and community involvement. As a graduate of Vance County public schools. I have a personal connection to the success of our school system.
My faith guides me, and I believe every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, every teacher deserves support, and our community deserves transparency and accountability.
I am stepping forward because I care about the future of our children and our schools. I am committed to listening, learning, and working with others to make decisions that put students first.
Together, we can work toward Stronger Schools Brighter Futures. Our Children. Our Schools. Our Future
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Responses from Candidate Hailey Breeze Macklin:
Over the last year I have become very interested in today’s topics that revolve around the public school system. I have a strong passion for education trends in the school system and since they change so often, I believe it is important to note which changes are necessary and which ones are not. The board of education involves decisions that affect not only our students but our teachers, staff, families, and even the community. As a young recently graduated education major, I believe that I can be a voice that listens to all sides of education.
I would identify my platform as strong schools make strong communities. The future of Vance County is being partly raised in the school system since that is where they spend the majority of their years. If a school system teaches communication, trust, leadership, and other important life skills, the community would be able to be more involved and help teach these skills. For example, a designated leadership learning day could allow students to meet leaders in the community that could provide clear insights on how to be a leader.
There are many important issues that the school district is facing but the three that stand out the most to me are: 1. Teacher Recruitment and Retention, 2. Early Childhood Literacy, and 3. Life after School. First, teacher recruitment and retention is a very important topic because it means so much more than teacher pay. Of course, you see the billboards all down the NC highways and
interstates that support paying NC teachers better, but we need to first start out with the support part. Being a teacher is so much more than a job. You are a support person for so many young people, and as a support person, you need to feel supported yourself. Keeping teachers is definitely a struggle because when they do not feel supported, it is harder to keep them. As a school board member, I could bring this issue to the board’s attention by focusing on teacher morale and involving teacher opinions. Making decisions without teacher input is one of those things that make teachers feel unsupported. The second issue I see the school district facing is early childhood literacy. I have a strong background in elementary education and I believe that schools should notice learning gaps in the elementary ages rather than waiting till middle or high school. Children that start out with a strong understanding of reading, writing, and math tend to have success in middle and high school. One way to implement this would be making sure our district is supporting the students with successful learning programs. There are many literacy and math programs that NC schools use and doing research on all these and figuring out which ones seem to be the most beneficial towards closing learning gaps, then it would be worth it to test them out. The last issue I want to bring up would be life after school/graduation. There are so
many different successful paths that a student can take after high school graduation. Being in support of all these paths is very important in order to have success in strong schools making strong communities. It isn’t out of the ordinary for schools to have college and job fairs but making sure students know their options is very important. A lot of schools shove the idea of college towards their graduating students but some already have their perfect future laid out for them with family business, trades, etc. Having the community advertise their options for students throughout the school provides students with comfort of knowing they have options.
I have a passion to make sure every student is provided with strong foundations from their early elementary years and then continuing to prepare them for long success after they leave a classroom. A great school starts with great teachers and giving the teachers the support they need allows the students to get the foundations they need in order to succeed. Partnerships between schools, local businesses, and colleges allow many opportunities that will help student success. Great teachers, strong foundations, involved families, and real-world opportunities are the ultimate ways to make Vance Co. Schools the best it can be.
My personal and professional experiences would allow me to bring both an educational and real-world perspective to the Vance County Board of Education. I earned a Master’s degree in Elementary last year so I am very familiar with the importance of strong instruction. I have also seen firsthand the challenges that educators or anyone who works close to the education system face. I also have experience working in and helping operate my family business. Working in this family business has taught me skills that are valuable in public service. Things like budgeting, accounting, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and decision making based on employee, customer, and community opinion. Also, Vance County is home. I care about the future of the community and public schools are essential to its future. My training in education and in business allows me to bring a unique perspective to the Board of Education.
There are many goals that I would like to achieve if I am elected for office. Short term goals would include listening and learning. Since I would be new to the board of education I would want to take the time to hear directly from teachers, parents, students, and administrators since they are the ones who deal with the classroom directly on a day to day basis. Hearing directly from this group of people would help benefit the school board in fixing the major issues a district has. Another short term goal I have would be creating strong communication between the schools and the community. Local business, organizations, and community colleges can serve a big role in helping our students succeed after high school. My long term goal is to make Vance County Schools a district that everyone is proud of. Families, teachers, and students are a huge part of the district and understanding their opinions and reasonings is the first step to making this long term goal a reality.
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