Bill Harris & Mark Pace continue their series on Major Events that have occurred in the Old Granville County Area since 1960.
(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)
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There’s still room at the table, so to speak, for last-minute registrants at the Kerr Tar Council of Government economic summit that will take place Thursday, Oct. 8 at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.
The event begins at 10 a.m. and features remarks by North Carolina’s First Lady, Anna Stein, said Desiree Brooks, KTCOG’s community and economic development manager.
“We are so excited to have her come,” Brooks said, adding that Stein is a “huge advocate” for rural tourism.
Registration is $40, and the first 250 people to have signed up will get a swag bag, as well as a lunch and a ticket to exchange for an ice cream dessert.
A panel discussion after lunch will feature representatives from five agritourism farms, and Brooks said they’re all working farms whose owners have added an agritourism layer.
“They’re all very different,” she said, and participants will get a chance to hear their distinct stories and the importance of farms and farming in our communities.
A pop-up market will be set up at lunchtime, and by the time the summit is over about 3:30 or so, Brooks said she hopes participants will hang around, mingle with others from the community and buy items from the vendors that will be set up outside McGregor Hall on Breckenridge Street. The Konnection Band will provide live music from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a festive atmosphere as folks do some shopping, sit outside and enjoy the music, she said.
Shoppers will find a variety of local produce and goods, from fresh-cut flowers, garden mums and perennials to hand-tied fishing lures, custom jewelry, goat milk lotions and soaps, local wildflower honey and breads, cookies and pastries from Strong Arm Baking Co.
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Saturday, Oct. 10 is Pumpkin Day at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, and Market Manager Stephen Wolf said the market will be ready with acrylic paints and pumpkins a-plenty for kids to come out and decorate.
Angie B’s Catering will be returning to serve up hotdogs, burgers and a new personal favorite, a jerk burger, Wolf said on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
It’ll be a good day for folks to come out to the market, decorate a pumpkin and just check out the variety of produce and handcrafted items between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Farmers have remained upbeat despite the lack of measurable rainfall lately, and Wolf said producers have some tasty greens including collards, cabbage and okra to go along with tomatoes, squash, sweet potatoes and more.
Wolf, who stepped into the manager role mid-season, said he’s enjoyed meeting and working with the farmers. He’s already planning for the future and said he would love to see each bay door lined with producers next season.
Learn more about healthy foods and good nutrition practices on Saturday, Oct. 17 when the “Food Pharmacy” comes to the market. Folks who participate in the educational programs between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. will earn “bucks” to spend at the market, he said.
If you’ve taken a close look at the calendar, you’ll have already noticed that Halloween falls on a Saturday, and Wolf said he’s encouraging all vendors to join him by getting into Halloween spirit by decorating their market spaces and dressing in costumes that day.
Everybody loves a holiday market, and the farmers market will feature its own Handcrafted Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 14. Vendors will be set up inside – and outside, hopefully – to showcase their handiwork.
Of course, there will still be the regular offerings including locally sourced meats, eggs, fall produce and more, Wolf said.
The market’s final day of the season is Saturday, Dec. 12, and it’ll be a great time to take care of some additional holiday gift shopping as vendors and producers take a break for the winter. Wolf said he’s planning a post-market banquet at the close of the market as a special “thank you” to vendors and sponsors for a productive and successful market season.
Follow the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on Facebook to stay up-to-date on special events and activities taking place at the market, located at 210 Southpark Dr.
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Vance County Finance Director Stephanie Williams said the county has collected $803,000 more than was anticipated in taxes, including ad valorem and local government sales taxes.
Ambulance revenues had an overage of $2.7 million, although ABC revenue – liquor stores – collected $161,000 less than was anticipated.
In her report to commissioners at their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Williams said tax collections for the 2025-26 period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 were greater than 96 percent – 96.36, to be specific.
But don’t let that $800,000 figure fool you into thinking that the county coffers are filling with additional funds.
The fact of the matter is that the county is still short to the tune of almost $344,000.
Williams spelled out that expenditures total $71,637,894.48 and revenue collected totals $71,293,975.07.
In her written report to commissioners, Williams explained a bit about the modified budget versus the adopted budget and how money can be basically moved where and when it’s needed.
“The Modified Budget reflects the adopted budget as adjusted through budget amendments presented to and approved by the Board of County Commissioners during the fiscal year. It also includes transfers of budget authority between departments within Fund 10 and items included in the End-of-Year Budget Authorization,” she stated.
Fund 10 is often referred to as the General Fund.
Find the complete agenda, including the budget information Williams provided commissioners at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-commissioners/agenda/
In other business before the board, Commissioners also approved proclamations for Fire Prevention Week and Breast Cancer Awareness. Commissioner Dan Brummitt made a motion to place pink ribbons on county buildings in observance of October as breast cancer awareness month.
Tabled was approval of the Tar River Hazard Mitigation Plan, presented by Emergency Management Specialist Willie Kearney.
Although the plan has been approved by other entities including the city of Henderson, commissioners opted to table approval of the 700-plus page document because of numerous updates that needed to be made in the document, from the county’s current internet provider to the physical address of certain EMS stations.
Before the conclusion of the meeting, commissioners entered into a closed session on an economic development matter. After 15 or 20 minutes, WIZS News understands commissioners returned to open session and voted to adopt minutes from past closed sessions, as Commissioner Brummitt told WIZS by phone after the meeting had ended.
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With the upcoming midterm elections now less than one month away, Vance County voters have a few options for casting their ballots – they can vote early beginning Thursday, Oct. 15, by mail, or in person on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Vance County ballots include a U.S. Senate race between former Gov. Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley to take retiring Thom Tillis’s place in Washington, a key N.C. House District 32 contest between incumbent Bryan Cohn and challenger Frank Sossamon, who Cohn beat in the 2024 election, as well as a handful of contested races at the local level.
Three state constitutional amendments also are on the ballot – two concerning tax rates and one about requiring voters to present photo ID when voting.
Four candidates are vying for the District 3 seat on the Vance County Board of Commissioners:
Incumbent Charisse Fain, a Democrat, faces Republican challenger Angie Ryan and two unaffiliated candidates, former commissioner Gordon Wilder and Charles “C.J.” Turrentine, Jr.
In the District 4 contest, Republican Kelley Wade Perdue faces Democratic candidate June Lewis III.
In District 7, Republican Joseph Falkner faces Democrat Joanne Evans.
The Vance County Board of Education has only one contested race, and that is the District 7 seat that has Democrat Angela Cooper Lyons and Republican Hailey Breeze Macklin vying for the seat.
WIZS News has mailed a list of questions to candidates in contested races for county commissioner and one school board seat and asked for written responses to present to listeners and readers before the early voting period begins.
In-person early voting for the November midterm elections begins on Thursday, Oct. 15. Vance County residents can vote early at 500 N. Beckford Dr., which is the former Eaton-Johnson Middle School campus.
Early voting ends on Saturday, Oct. 31. The early-voting site will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each weekday Oct. 15 – 30. The polls will be open on Saturday, Oct. 31, which will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
See Vance County’s early-voting schedule at:
Eligible individuals have until 5 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 9 to register to vote in the upcoming Nov. 3 election, those who want to cast their ballot either by mail or on Election Day.
State elections officials remind voters that “same-day registration” is available during the early voting period; registrants must attest to their eligibility, provide proof of U.S. citizenship and show an accepted form of photo ID.
Find your sample ballot https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/
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The City of Henderson Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to support Fire Prevention Week Oct 4-10. This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses on the simple steps people can take to recharge safely. Safe charging means making smart choices every time you plug in.
Phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes and scooters just a few of so many household items that run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries store a lot of energy in a small space and if they are damaged or charged the wrong way, they can overheat, start a fire or even explode.
“The way you charge your lithium-ion battery devices can make a difference in helping prevent home fires,” said Lee Edmonds, battalion chief at City of Henderson Fire Department. “It comes down to using simple habits each time you plug in.”
Stop by Central Fire Station 1 on Dabney Drive between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 for an open house and learn more about practicing fire safety.
Following are a few suggestions to keep in mind when recharging lithium-ion batteries:
For more information about FPW programs in the City of Henderson, contact Battalion Chief Edmonds 252.438.7315.
To learn more about lithium-ion battery safety, visit www.fpw.org.
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If you chose to listen to the following radio show, please consider spending the time to listen to the entire show to prevent any parts from being out of context. This is the report for today, a link below to replay the broadcast.
This file was edited in one place to correct to a June 2025 date of one of the emails mentioned, as opposed to what was incorrectly stated on the air saying the email was in June 2024. The edit is in the 32nd minute.
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For 85 years, Vance Furniture Co. has been an anchor for downtown Henderson. And on Friday morning, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon-cutting to recognize the local business for its long-standing commitment to the community.
With well-wishers and Chamber board members looking on, Craig and Maria Bailey, along with company employees, welcomed the group into the main floor showroom.
“This just doesn’t ‘happen,’” said Vanessa Jones, the Chamber’s director of programs. “It takes hard work and dedication to the community to make it to 85 years,” Jones said in opening remarks.
Bailey’s father, Hayden Bailey, established the business in September 1941.
“We all know what happened in 1941,” Bailey said, referring to the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 of that year.
After a two-year tour in the Pacific, the elder Bailey came back to Henderson to focus on the business and starting a family.
Another name with a long association to the company co-owner Sam Harper, who as co-owner spent six decades with Vance Furniture Co. Harper died in 2024.
Craig Bailey said he has a rich history with the furniture company. “I’ve been here most of my life,” he said. “It’s been fun, it’s been an experience,” he added.
Chamber Board Chair the Rev. Abidan Shah said the iconic five-story building represents downtown in the best possible way.
“Thanks for all your sacrifices and service,” Shah told Bailey and staff.
With his office literally across the street from Vance Furniture, Vance County Economic Development Director Ferdinand Rouse said he is glad the county – and downtown – has a business with the staying power of Vance Furniture and said he hopes that it will continue to loom large as revitalization efforts continue.
Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan said her parents had been loyal customers since they moved here in 1970.
Madigan said she understands now more than ever how important it is to support local businesses, especially when there are so many options available.
“It is amazing that we have a store like this in Henderson,” she said, that serves not just the local community but touts a wide customer base.
After the ribbon-cutting, Bailey said folks come in from all over the area, including Wake Forest, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and recreational areas like Kerr Lake and Lake Gaston.
Customers can roam around showrooms on all five floors and get an extra thrill when they step into that elevator that transports them to each level.
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The weekend of October 9, 10 and 11 will feature Homecoming festivities at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, but Saturday, Oct. 10 is the big day for the public including food, live music, rides for the children plus the parade route along College Street.
Alvis Billings, MHCO’s annual giving director said more than 30 Shrine units are wheeling into town for Saturday’s parade, which will once again delight parade watchers all along the route.
You won’t want to miss it – it’s the biggest Shrine parade in the state. The parade steps off at 10 a.m., Billings said on Monday’s TownTalk.
The ‘Pit’ will be cranking out all types of delicious barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 10 and the Embers will take the stage from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come out and enjoy the day, beginning with the parade at 10 a.m. and going through 3 p.m. Enjoy the barbecue – all you care to eat – for a $10 donation.
There are other events going on through the weekend for alumni and former residents of the home, which Billings said is the oldest children’s home in the state.
This is the 14th Homecoming festival, Billings said. Organizers expect several hundred former residents to return this weekend – to celebrate, remember and reminisce.
“It’s a fun time, but it’s also a very solemn time,” he said. The home’s mission, simply put, is to create a safe, nurturing and loving environment for children. “We create this space where kids can excel,” he said.
The home will celebrate 154 years in February and Billings called his work a passion. In his role as annual giving director, he keeps a sharp eye on what it takes to provide for the children.
The Freemasons do provide support, and the alumni association is active, but the children’s home relies heavily on financial donations, will and estates.
The Homecoming festival is a way to show appreciation for donors, as well as engage and inform the community about the home’s mission and needs.
Visit https://mhc-oxford.org/ to see a complete schedule of activities.
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