Town Talk 10/21/19
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Town Talk 10/18/19
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Town Talk 10/17/19: All About This Weekend’s Show, Shine, Shag & Dine
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Today’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk was all about the 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine being held Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 in Historic Downtown Henderson.
Featuring 1988 and older antique cars, classic cars, nostalgia drag cars, muscle cars, street rods, rat rods and trucks over a ten-block area of Garnett Street, the show grows in popularity each year, bringing thousands of visitors – and tourism dollars – to the downtown area.
Weekend festivities also include car judging, live entertainment, specials offered by downtown merchants, food vendors, miscellaneous vendors and much more.
Garnett Street will be closed from Young Avenue to Andrews Avenue, including all side streets, beginning at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
2019 Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Schedule:
Friday, October 18
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ~ Pre-show Cruise-in and BBQ cookout for $12 per plate. Meal served 12 – 2:30 p.m. Open to all makes and models 1988 and older and all spectators. Location: Satterwhite Point Park, Kerr Lake, I-85 – Exit 217.
5 – 9 p.m. ~ Southern Classic Cruise-in will be held at 117 Horner Street in downtown Henderson. A DJ will be spinning your favorite tunes from the past and Chick-fil-A will be on site. Cruise-in parking will be located in the 700 block of S. Garnett St. Head over to Citizen’s Grill & Pub located at 200 S. Garnett Street to hear the “Brake Tyme Band” perform from 6 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 19
7:30 – 11 a.m. ~ Car registration – enter from W. Winder Street. Open to all makes and models 1988 and older. Antique cars, classic cars, nostalgia drag cars, muscle cars, street rods, rat rods and trucks.
7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ~ MAIN EVENT – 18th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Car Show and East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. Live entertainment, kids’ entertainment, DJ, food, vendors, judging and award presentations on Garnett St. in downtown Henderson.
3 – 6 p.m. ~ The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and presenting sponsor Charles Boyd Chevrolet, Buick, GMC invite you to “The After Party” following the classic car show on Saturday. The party will be held at the corner of Breckenridge and Garnett St. “The Konnection Band” will keep the festivities going with a variety of music including Top 40, Rock, Country, R & B, Beach and Oldies.
The Corbitt Preservation Association will also host their annual Corbitt Truck Show and Reunion on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the downtown fire station.
“Our club-owned, newly restored and driveable 1926 Corbitt Fire Truck with a restored crank siren will be a showpiece in front of the state’s oldest working fire station,” said board member Tom Burleson. “We are expecting to have 18 vehicles including trucks, a couple of rare tractors and our newest find – the body of a Corbitt automobile.”
One of only approximately 100 Corbitt-made automobiles manufactured from 1905 to 1912, Burleson said the “one-of-a-kind discovery goes toward our circle of finding products that this company made so many years ago right in downtown Henderson.”
Additionally, the Corbitt Museum will be open to visitors on Saturday. The museum is located at 180 Church Street in Henderson.
Show, Shine, Shag & Dine is hosted and sponsored by the Vance County Tourism Department. For more information, please visit www.kerrlake-nc.com or call 1-866-438-4565.
To hear the interview with Burleson and the Vance Co. Tourism Department in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/16/19: Aarika Sandlin, VCS’ New Public Information Officer, On-Air
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Aarika Sandlin, public information officer (PIO) for Vance County Schools, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss both her new role and the future of the local public school system.
Sandlin, who received her undergraduate degree from Mars Hill University and graduate degree from East Tennessee State University, believes her studies in journalism, corporate communications, public relations and education, along with her 16 years of work experience in education, will serve her well in her new position.
Pictured: Aarika Sandlin, public information officer (PIO) for Vance County Schools.
Of her time in the education field, Sandlin spent 11 years as a classroom teacher and five years as a high school test coordinator.
Taking the reins from long-serving VCS PIO Terri Hedrick, who retired in July with 21-years in the school system, Sandlin said one of her first tasks is to determine what has been working and what may need to be tweaked moving forward.
“We are looking at ways things have been, deciding what went well and then looking at things that we need to take down a different path,” said Sandlin.
One area of focus, according to Sandlin, includes getting more parents on-board with social media channels as a means of conveying information in a fast, effective manner.
In addition to Vance County Schools’ website and social media outlets, Sandlin explained that each school now has its own social media account that is managed by the principal or the principal’s designee.
It is beneficial for parents to follow both their child’s individual school account and Vance County Schools’ accounts to ensure updated information, said Sandlin.
Sandlin’s primary job is to “make sure the community, the parents, the staff and the teachers are aware of what’s going on in Vance County Schools, sharing the positive things and showcasing our students for the great things they are doing.”
To accomplish this, Sandlin must be on-the-go frequently. “I’m in my office very little,” she said with a laugh. “I’m in the schools. I’m meeting with community members and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce to share what’s going on and to get them to partner with us.”
To hear the interview with Sandlin in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/15/19: Youth Outreach Programs Aim to Prevent Violent Situations
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Tara Goolsby, facilities supervisor, and Shantel Hargrove, youth services outreach administrator, with the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department were the guests of honor on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.
In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS continues to feature local organizations each Tuesday for on-air discussions of this prevalent type of abuse that affects all genders, races, religions and socioeconomic classes.
This week’s segment focused on the prevention of domestic violence situations through youth outreach and how to find the best criminal lawyers in Atlanta to help you sue your offender quickly to avoid more issues.
Goolsby and Hargrove discussed the various youth services offered by the H-V Rec. Department, including Teen Court for older youth, and Project Youth Outreach for elementary and middle school children.
Teen Court is a program for first-time offenders – typically between the ages of 11-17 – run by teenagers who serve as the defense, prosecution, jury and bailiff. Licensed judges and lawyers preside over the cases.
Teens are sent to the court, with a professional criminal defense lawyer assigned to each case, for offenses such as fighting at school and will maintain a clean record if sanctions imposed by the court, such as community service, are completed.
Teen Court meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Vance County Courthouse.
Project Youth Outreach is an in-school program offered to fourth and fifth-grade students at L.B. Yancey Elementary, Carver Elementary and E.O. Young Elementary School. Services are also offered to sixth and seventh-grade students at Vance County Middle School. An eighth-grade after school program is also in the works.
Representatives meet with students once a week during their special electives time to work on areas such as self-confidence, good hygiene, bullying and character-building.
These outreach programs aim, in part, to prevent youth from becoming either a victim or a perpetrator of domestic violence.
To hear the interview in its entirety, including more information on upcoming events for youth, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/14/19: Local Airport’s Military Show Kicks Off Veterans Day Observances
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Lyn Breisacher, with the Veterans’ Affairs Committee of Granville County, was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss the 4th Annual Military History Show to be held Saturday, October 26, 2019, at the Henderson-Oxford Airport.
The airport is located at 6514 Airport Road in Oxford, NC.
The event, to be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., will feature various military displays including uniforms, equipment, weapons, vehicles and many other military historical articles. Admission is free and open to the general public.
Started in 2016 by World War II buff and war reenactor Harry Coombs, the show continues to gain popularity every year.
“The excitement keeps growing; we’ve seen more this year as people are becoming more aware of it,” said Breisacher.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Granville County Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Harry very graciously gives proceeds from the show to the committee to help with the need of veterans throughout our area,” Breisacher said.
The show kicks off the beginning of Veterans Day celebrations and remembrances in Granville County, culminating in Veterans Day, officially observed this year on Monday, November 11.
Vendor spaces are available and donations are accepted. For more information, please contact Coombs at (919) 691-7697 or email harry4th@centurylink.net.
To hear the Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/11/19
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Town Talk 10/10/19: HFD’s Fire Prevention Day to Feature Smoke House, Free Food
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Captain Lee Edmonds with the Henderson Fire Department was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the upcoming Fire Prevention Day to be held this Saturday, October 12, 2019.
This free event will be held on Breckenridge Street between the Henderson Police Department and the Perry Memorial Library in downtown Henderson from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Activities include fire truck demonstrations, a smoke safety house, games for kids, fire safety information and a cooking fire demonstration.
Free pizza, hotdogs and refreshments will be served; everyone is invited.
“This is similar to the annual Night Out Against Crime event with more of a focus on fire-related issues,” explained Edmonds. “We want to promote fire safety to both children and adults, present ways to prevent fires in your home and demonstrate how to avoid injury if there is a fire.”
Edmonds said the smoke safety house will help children learn how to properly escape a home if a fire breaks out.
Fire department staff will also demonstrate the proper, and improper, way to put out a cooking fire involving grease. “We will demonstrate what happens when you throw water on a grease fire; it’s a big no-no,” Edmonds said. “Those two do not mix.”
The event coincides with National Fire Prevention Week that runs October 6 through October 12. This year’s National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) theme is: “Not every hero wears a cape – plan and practice your escape.”
To hear Edmond’s Town Talk interview in its entirety, including additional fire safety tips, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/09/19: Ellington, Owens & Spriggs Comment on Election Results
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With only 12.60% of registered voters participating in Tuesday’s City of Henderson municipal election, incumbent mayor Eddie Ellington defeated challenger Sharon Owens by a vote of 652 to 568 to retain his position for an additional four-year term.
Owens carried the north, south and east precincts of Henderson, while Ellington won re-election behind a large margin of victory in west Henderson.
In the only other contested race of the election, Jason Spriggs defeated incumbent George Daye for City of Henderson Alderman At-Large 4th Ward by a count of 637 to 509.
Eddie Ellington
“The citizens have spoken and they have affirmed our course,” said Ellington. “In the last four years we’ve made much progress; however, the journey is not done yet. We enter into a time of great challenge but unlimited possibilities. We’ve got to finish the work we started.”
One of the most important tasks to focus on in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Ellington, is finding the right person for the Henderson City Manager’s position.
Current manager Frank Frazier, who has been with the City for 35 years, is set to retire at the end of January 2020.
Ellington said a firm has been hired to complete the vetting of applicants, and he is looking forward to further discussion in a private council meeting to be held prior to the public Henderson City Council meeting on Monday evening.
While acknowledging that Henderson has many issues that still need addressing, Ellington said he firmly believes much progress has been made in his first term as mayor and encourages all citizens to get involved.
“Go to City Council meetings, read the paper, listen to WIZS and get involved in order to gain perspective on what is being done to address the issues,” Ellington said.
Sharon Owens
“It wasn’t an easy race that I gave the mayor and I believe it gave him something to think about,” laughed Owens in a phone call to WIZS. “If I can get that close, the next person will probably win it.”
While her campaign didn’t result in a victory, Owens said she was proud of her staff and the people who worked hard and supported her.
“While I may not have had all the votes, they have not heard or seen the last of me,” Owens stated.
Owens said that while she wishes nothing but the best for Ellington and believes he’ll “continue to work for our city and make it better,” she also “will not be pleased until there is a turnaround.”
With retirement from her position as a budget analyst with Durham Public Schools on the horizon, Owens said she plans to “take advantage of every opportunity I can to do some work for the city.”
“I’m not satisfied with the work they [City Council] are doing,” explained Owens. “Retiring will give me the time to go out there and solicit people to replace some of the people sitting in those seats that I’m not pleased with.”
Owens said she is excited that Spriggs was elected to the City Council and looks forward to seeing what he brings to the table. “I’m grateful that Jason is getting an opportunity and has new, fresh ideas for the City Council, so I’m just as thrilled as if I had won.”
Jason Spriggs
Celebrating the victory with his campaign team, family and supporters, Spriggs said last night’s win “was the catalyst that can put plans into motion.”
In previous interviews with WIZS, Spriggs has discussed his belief that economic development in Henderson needs to extend beyond Dabney Drive and the downtown area.
“We need economic growth throughout Henderson, but especially east and north to equal what’s happening on Dabney Drive.”
Part of the lack of economic growth in those areas, according to Spriggs, is an image problem.
“I’m going to be real honest and frank, for the last week or so, I’ve spent most of my time on the east side around the Flint Hill area,” said Spriggs. “I’m a bit discouraged because if you were a visitor and came into that area, you would think it was a slum. It’s not a slum because people there are acting like it’s a slum, it’s a slum because of the way it looks. I personally believe as a city we can do something practical, logical and effective to change the way it looks.”
Spriggs also addressed the low voter turnout to the election by saying, “The turnout was low and it hurt. In the next four years, that turnout should be at least triple that. I think that’s a goal we need to reach for.”
Daye could not be reached for comment but previously said on WIZS “TownTalk” that he hoped Spriggs would win and looked forward to seeing some younger blood on the council.
Other, uncontested positions in the municipal election include:
Alderman At-Large 3rd Ward – Melissa Elliott
Alderman 1st Ward – Marion Brodie Williams
Alderman 2nd Ward – Mike Rainey
To hear the Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 10/08/19: Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Reports 1,300+ Domestic Calls
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In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS’ Town Talk will feature local organizations that deal with various aspects of this prevalent type of abuse each Tuesday in October.
Debbie Scott, Gang Resource Specialist and Domestic Violence Investigator with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, was on Tuesday’s edition of Town Talk to discuss her role as a “supporter and advocate for those who are afraid.”
According to Emergency 911 reports, 1,304 domestic calls were reported throughout the City of Henderson and County of Vance between October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2019. Of these calls, 445 were assaults involving the victim being struck by the attacker’s body or a weapon; 84 were sexual assaults.
Scott said that once she receives a report of a domestic call, she follows up with a phone call to the victim and explains their options and available resources.
“I advise them if they should seek further assistance, make recommendations and share with them community resources,” said Scott. “I also explain their right to file a Domestic Violence Protection Order, otherwise known as a 50B, and sometimes serve as their support in court.”
Scott stated that protection orders can be taken out at the Vance County Clerk of Court Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and at the Magistrate Office after hours. The Vance County Courthouse is located at 156 Church St. in downtown Henderson.
Though Scott said many victims do not leave their partners after a domestic violence incident, she always suggests that they have a safety plan in the event that they do decide to remove themselves and their children from the abusive situation.
“I tell them to have some money set aside, at least a few dollars, talk to a family member or friend about staying with them for a few days, makes copies or take photos of important documents, keep a cell phone and don’t hesitate to call 911 or the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.”
When asked why victims do not leave abusive partners, Scott responded, “They’ll say they don’t have a job, they can’t support themselves or their kids, they worry about what will happen after they leave, they say they love them or think they will change; there are a variety of reasons.”
In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, resources and assistance for domestic violence victims are available at the Vance County Department of Social Services, located at 350 Ruin Creek Road in Henderson, or by calling the main office line at (252) 492-5001.
Infinite Possibilities, a non-profit domestic violence organization, is also available by calling (252) 431-1926 or the 24-hour local crisis line at (252) 425-2492. A National Hotline is also available by calling 1-800-799-7233.