Town Talk (07/24/19): Jason Spriggs Discusses Henderson City Council Campaign

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Jason A. Spriggs, candidate for the Henderson City Council’s 4th Ward At-Large seat, was the guest of honor on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.

A resident of Turner Avenue near downtown Henderson, Spriggs is running against incumbent George Daye in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election.

Spriggs, who said previous discussions with Daye led to his interest in Henderson’s political scene, expressed his surprise that Daye filed for reelection.

“George Daye filed on the very last day,” Spriggs said. “We didn’t expect it. From every City leader and County leader that I spoke with, he was not expected to do so. This is kind of where we’re at; this is politics, so we continue our campaign.”

Filing for the October 8 election began Friday, July 5 at 12 p.m. and ended on Friday, July 19, 2019, at 12 p.m. Offices that will be on the ballot include Mayor, 1st and 2nd Ward seats and 3rd and 4th  Ward At-Large seats.

With no one filing for the Henderson City Council’s 3rd Ward At-Large seat by the July 19 deadline, the State Board of Elections approved an extension that began Monday, July 22 and ends Friday, July 26, 2019, at 12 p.m.

Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, Spriggs, who has called NC home for 20+ years now, said he is familiar with the rural way of life and understands the importance of local connections and personal relationships.

“In a small town, if they don’t know you – and I mean have eaten with you or have attended church services with you – you’re going to have some issues with not only getting known but also getting the support.”

Not being as well known around town is one reason Spriggs said his 2015 campaign for the Henderson City Council’s 3rd Ward At-Large seat was, ultimately, unsuccessful.

Spriggs said he and his family’s establishment in the community has grown in the past four years and believes his ideas, coupled with suggested solutions, make him the right person for the job.

“The things that are going on in Henderson are not things that city leaders can take lightly,” said Spriggs. “A lot of youth are dying, residents are struggling to keep water and lights on and residents are struggling with addiction. No matter who I talk to, the first thing they say is ‘if they would just pick up this trash.’ The conversation then proceeds to crime and drugs. Those are the top three things.”

Conscious of budget constraints, Spriggs suggested using existing City resources and personnel to provide street litter cleanup on a weekly or biweekly basis.

He also referred listeners to his website at www.jason4henderson.com for more information on his campaign and a more extensive list of his ideas for improving Henderson.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. WIZS is in communication with incumbent George Daye to participate in a similar interview.)

To hear Spriggs’ 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 (07/23/19): H-V Chamber Welcomes Familiar Face to President Role

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Michele Burgess, president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss her new position and vision for the organization.

Beginning her third term as the head of the chamber, Burgess’ first official day serving under the title of “president” was July 22, 2019. She previously served as executive director from 1982-88 and 1995-99.

Burgess succeeded Vanessa Jones, who served as interim president in the months following former president John Barnes’ resignation earlier this year.

In discussing her local connections, Burgess said she is excited the chamber’s board chose a Henderson native as their leader.

“I live in Vance County and I love Henderson,” Burgess said. “I love where I live. This is my hometown and I’m proud of it.”

For her first task, Burgess said she and chamber staff will be focusing on membership. “We are going to look at who is a member and who is not a member. We want to reach out to those who maybe couldn’t afford the membership dues when they first opened but are a little more established now and could benefit from our services.”

As far as current members, Burgess said she wants to introduce herself, or in some cases reintroduce herself, encourage continued community involvement and to set the tone for her “hands-on approach” to the chamber’s mission.

Burgess believes, much as she did in her previous chamber roles, that the key to growing the community is to think outside of the box and get creative with strategies to help small businesses. “A large majority of our members are small businesses with 50 or less, and many with 20 or less, employees,” she explained.

Acknowledging that attending popular chamber events such as Business After Hours, Meet Me in the Street and various networking sessions aren’t feasible for all business owners, Burgess said the question then becomes, “What can we do to help you?”

Some of the ways the chamber can help small businesses, according to Burgess, include offering relevant training for employees and advocating for their particular industry.

“We [the chamber] can do that,” Burgess reiterated. “We are an organization that serves businesses; it’s all about building businesses. The chamber is all about relationships.”

Further emphasizing the importance of relationships, Burgess explained the connections that are often made at H-V Chamber-sponsored events serve business leaders and their staff well in the future.

“You do business with people that you like and trust,” Burgess said. “The way to do this is to be involved in your community, and especially to be involved with your chamber.”

To hear Burgess’ 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 (07/22/19): 10th Annual Community Day to Offer Entertainment, Free Food

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Chalis Henderson was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss the upcoming 10th Annual Community Day hosted by Oasis of Hope Ministries and Turning Point CDC.

Slated for Saturday, August 3, 2019, the event will be held at 2495 US Hwy 1 – 158 Business in Henderson from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

A community yard sale will begin earlier in the day at 7 a.m.

The public is invited to enjoy fellowship, games, food, entertainment, giveaways and plenty of activities for kids.

Event sponsor Microsoft will host two STEAM tents involving digital arts and coding & gaming for interested participants.

According to Henderson, Betabox Labs and zSpace Labs will also be on hand to provide 3-D and virtual reality demonstrations.

Activities include:

Yard sale – begins at 7 a.m.

Community Day events – officially begin at 10 a.m.

Line dancing – 11 a.m.

Performance by the Vance County High School Band – 11:45 a.m.

Zumba – 1 p.m.

Comedy by Ms. Annie Perry – 1:30 p.m.

Free hot dogs, chips and water will be available to all participants. Lawrence Perry BBQ will also be on-site with meals available for purchase.

A backpack and school supply giveaway will also be held; the student must be present.

To hear Henderson’s 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 07/19/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church

Town Talk: SHPHC Announces ‘For Unto Y’all’ Christmas Production – 07/18/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

The holidays may still be months away, but for Pastor Rhonda Pulley and South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, now is the time to prepare for the 12th annual Christmas Dinner Theatre.

This year’s production is titled “For Unto Y’all,” and is a retelling of the traditional Christmas story set to a Western theme.

“We’re going to use our imaginations to wonder what if Jesus was born not quite so long ago and not quite so far away in the Old West,” explained Pulley. “We’re not changing the biblical story, just changing the setting in a fun and imaginative way.”

With past Christmas productions being sold-out events, Pulley said the church included six performance dates for this year’s show. Performance dates and times include November 30, 6 p.m.; December 1, 6 p.m.; December 5, 6:30 p.m.; December 6, 6:30 p.m.; December 7, 6 p.m.; December 8, 6 p.m.

In addition to the performance, guests will enjoy a dinner consisting of prime rib, baked potato, garden salad, dinner roll, dessert and beverage – all prepared by church members. Cost per person for dinner and show is $30.

“The prime rib alone is worth the cost; it’s the best,” Pulley said.

To reserve your tickets to what is expected to be another sold-out season, please call the church office at (252) 438-3322.

The church is located at 905 Americal Road in Henderson.

To hear Pulley’s 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: Weekend Full of Events Planned for Mary Potter Reunion – 07/17/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Town Talk listeners were in for a treat when Susan Rose, president of Rose Farms and Rentals, Inc. (DBA WIZS Radio) hosted today’s episode with special guest Rosalyn Green, event organizer for the upcoming Mary Potter reunion.

Founded by Dr. George C. Shaw, a Louisburg native, in 1889 to educate African Americans, Mary Potter Academy began as a boarding school before becoming a public high school, intermediate school and, most recently, middle school.

Reunion events will kick off on Friday, July 19, 2019, with a “Meet and Greet” event at Mary E. Shaw Gymnasium on Lanier St. in Oxford. The gymnasium was one of the original buildings of the Mary Potter School.

According to Green, Friday’s event will include food, music, good conversation and lots of former alumni.

Reunion festivities will continue with a parade through downtown Oxford on Saturday, July 20 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The parade is open to the public and will start and end at the George C. Shaw Museum located at 202 McClanahan Street in Oxford.

The parade will follow Williamsboro, Hillsborough and Broad Street and will have appearances by “local officials, local talent, bike clubs, car clubs and a few surprises,” according to Green.

Events will conclude with a church memorial service on Sunday, July 21 at the Timothy Darling Presbyterian Church, an establishment that also traces its roots back to Dr. Shaw, founding pastor. The church is located at 123 W McClanahan St, Oxford.

Green said Sunday’s memorial service will pay homage to those who have passed away since the last reunion, as well as recognize alumni who are veterans.

An active member and former president of the National Mary Potter Club, Green is a 1970 graduate of the last class of Mary Potter High School.

According to Green, this weekend’s bi-annual reunion will be even more poignant for alumni in light of news that Mary Potter Middle School will no longer be in operation effective with the 2019-20 school year.

For more information on reunion events or to RSVP, please call Rosalyn M. Green (301) 351-4850, Gloria G. Hawkins (919) 691-1291 or Janet Baptiste Jones (240) 447-2014. Green asks that all interested participants RSVP no later than Thursday, July 18.

To hear Green’s 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: Friendly Barber Shop Celebrates 55th Anniversary – 07/16/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

In honor of Friendly Barber Shop’s 55th anniversary, owner and barber Gene Fisher was interviewed for Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.

Located at 1003 Nicholas Street in Henderson, both the shop and Fisher have been offering haircuts to residents since 1964. According to Fisher, the shop was located in a building across the street for six years before moving to its current location in 1970.

“Out of the 55 years, I’ve been here every day except for deaths, vacation and sickness,” Fisher reported.

In honor of Friendly Barber Shop’s 55th anniversary, owner and barber Gene Fisher was interviewed for the July 16, 2019, edition of WIZS’ Town Talk. WIZS photo.

Fisher said he has worked with many barbers over the years including Lou Pearce, Randolph Edwards and Dave Loughlin.

“We even had a couple of young boys that got in trouble with the law and Lou gave them a chance,” said Fisher. “They came over here and did a very good job before moving on to other fields.”

Of course, another change over the years has been the price of services. Fisher said haircuts were $1.25 when the shop first opened and slowly increased to $16 today.

When Town Talk host John Charles Rose, who was getting a haircut while interviewing Fisher, joked that the price of the shop’s soft drinks hasn’t increased in over 25 years, Fisher said he wasn’t in it for the money.

“I don’t care anything about making money. I just want to keep customers happy. I don’t want them to leave my chair until their hair is right,” said Fisher.

Fisher said the best part of his job is the great conversations he has with customers, “I just like to talk to people and to see how they are doing, how their families are doing, what church they go to and things like that.”

Fisher, who takes pride in his work and pride in his community, was asked how he felt about recent shootings in Vance County and offered these suggestions:

“I think it’s terrible. They need to put prayer back in school; that is one thing that will really help this country. I think they need to reestablish a draft system for all boys coming out of high school and require at least two years of service to cut down on the drug problems.”

With a sanitation grade of 100, 55 years of haircutting experience, good conversational skills and a dose of wisdom, Fisher and Friendly Barber Shop continue to serve the community.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

To hear Fisher’s 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: Garrison Discusses DHHS Move, Medicaid – 07/15/19

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Town Talk 11 a.m., M-F, 100.1 FM / 1450 AM

In the continuing discussion about the proposed move of The Department of Health and Human Services administrative offices to the Triangle North Corporate Park in Granville and Vance Counties, NC House 32 Representative Terry Garrison says, “If we can get true bi-partisan support on the relocation, I think that provides the greatest opportunity for sustainability.”

Garrison says the majority of the people in the House 32 district have asked him to “vote against the veto on the one hand, but on the other hand, those persons who have been my staunch allies and those who have been in the trenches and have been my front-line workers and sergeants for the campaign of a democratic party, each one of them has strongly advised me to sustain the Governor’s veto, not to override the Governor’s veto.”

Garrison has been told to his face, he said, that his allies plan to run someone against him if he does help override the Governor’s veto.

That type of pressure speaks to the level of pressure Garrison is under, both locally and from Raleigh. And from his Town Talk interview (listed in full below), one conclusion you could draw is that he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

Garrison is under a lot of pressure with this, and he said, “I want these jobs to come here as much as anyone, perhaps more than anyone.”

Another conclusion and Garrison agrees, the DHHS move is being used as a pawn in a chess game. So much so, Garrison indicated he thought if it were back to the days in North Carolina that the Governor did not have veto power that the State would already have an approved budget and much of this DHHS move may have never come about.

Along those lines, politics got us here and politics is the only way out.

As the Town Talk interview begins, the first two questions are:

WHY NOT JUST VOTE TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR’S VETO OF THE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE GUARANTEED WAY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO LOCATE IT’S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN GRANVILLE COUNTY?
YOU’VE SAID YOU WANTED TO NEGOTIATE THE MATTER OF MEDICAID EXPANSION SOME. WHAT WILL MEDICAID EXPANSION DO FOR THIS AREA THAT THE JOBS AND GROWTH OF DHHS MOVING TO THE TRIANGLE NORTH PARK WILL NOT DO?

Town Talk 07/12/19

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Town Talk: The Cabin Pickers’ Stephanie Cole On Air – 07/11/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Stephanie Cole, a singer with local group The Cabin Pickers, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss her background and to perform one of her favorite songs, “The Promise” by The Martins.

To hear Cole’s 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.