TownTalk: Jail To Close For Repairs

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The 50-plus inmates of the Vance County Detention Center could find themselves in a different jail soon – at least temporarily – while contractors replace old doors to provide better security.

The Vance County Commissioners approved spending up to $90,000 to pay for the inmates’ stays at other facilities, but there’s one condition: Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame must get, in writing, confirmation from the contractor that the work can and will be done within a 30-day period.

During that 30-day window, the jail would be closed as far as housing inmates is concerned. Closing a jail sounds like a severe measure, but it is what needs to happen for  the repairs and installations to be completed.

Brame and longtime sheriff’s office employee Weldon Bullock were at the commissioners’ meeting Monday to make the request. They shared details of yet another example of unsafe conditions at the jail – an inmate lay unconscious for at least five minutes after being attacked in a fight over the weekend.

He was transported to Duke University Hospital and had surgery for a broken eye socket, Bullock reported during his remarks to the commissioners. He also stated that the doors are broken and can’t be secured properly. But physical conditions aside, Bullock said what really bothered him was that the inmate could have died. “The guy could have laid there and died – I don’t want somebody to get killed because we can’t lock the doors.”

The new doors have been purchased and are ready to be installed, to the tune of about $400,000. Once the sheriff gets written confirmation from the contractor that the work can be done within a 30-day period, the plan can proceed.

As chief law enforcement officer in the county, the sheriff is responsible for the hiring and firing of employees within the sheriff’s office, but salaries and other capital expenses are the responsibility of the county commissioners.

Brame has long said that the county needs a new jail and more staff to adequately cover the jail. The facility has gotten deficiencies on state inspection reports for various problems, from broken doors to non-functioning cameras and peeling paint.

A comprehensive feasibility study was initiated last year to evaluate the jail and to help county leaders decide whether to repair or replace the 30-year-old structure.

The Vance County Jail will close for thirty days to replace doors.

 

TownTalk: Pink With Passion Focus On Cancer Survivors

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The second “Pink With A Passion” cancer walk planned for Saturday, April 15 in Warren County grew out of one woman’s desire to pay it forward.

Amena Wilson is president of the nonprofit group, which she founded after a 2017 breast cancer diagnosis – thus, the color in the organization’s name.

But Wilson told John C. Rose that she hopes there will be all colors associated with particular cancers present for the event, which will be held at the Warren County Rec Complex from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It’s going to be “a day of celebration for patients, survivors, caregivers,” Wilson said on Wednesday’ TownTalk. There will be food trucks and vendors, as well as music and other entertainment throughout the day.

Walkers are encouraged to wear whatever color represents the cancer that has affected them or loved ones they’ve cared for. “It’s going to be a day with great meaning,” she said.

This event is NOT a fundraiser, Wilson emphasized; rather, it’s just a small way to show support and encouragement to cancer patients and to survivors.

And it’s not just for Warren County residents – “we welcome anybody, near and far…we would love to have you,” Wilson said.

Interested in being a vendor? There’s still time, Wilson said. Call her at 252.213.5735 to learn more.

Here are some common cancers and their colors:

  • Lung cancer: white
  • Brain cancer: grey
  • Breast cancer: pink
  • Liver cancer: emerald green
  • Lymphoma: lime green
  • Prostate cancer: light blue
  • Stomach cancer: periwinkle blue
  • Bone cancer: yellow
  • Leukemia: orange
  • Skin: black
  • Colon: dark blue

 

 

TownTalk: Vance County Republican Convention Coming Up

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Local Republican Party leaders are putting the finishing touches on plans for upcoming county conventions, that vital first step of electing delegates that will ultimately select delegates for upcoming state and national events in advance of the 2024 elections.

Jimmy Barrier chairs the Vance County GOP, which plans to have its county convention on Friday, Mar. 24 at Pool Rock Reception and Convention Center. He was joined by Mike Magnanti, vice-chair of the Granville GOP and David Woodson, Warren County GOP treasurer on Tuesday’s TownTalk with John C. Rose.

Granville County will host its county convention one day before the Vance County event – Thursday, Mar. 23 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center. Doors open at 4:30, Magnanti said.

Warren County held its convention Saturday, Mar. 4, Woodson said. The GOP doesn’t have a large presence in Warren County, “but it’s growing,” Woodson reported.

“I’m excited about the momentum,” he said. “2024 will be here before you know it – we need to be ready.”

Political activity begins at the precinct levels in February, which leads to county conventions in March – that’s usually when the group elects officers and district delegates. The district and state conventions are held in June, followed by the national convention in July, Magnanti explained.

“It’s all about organizing the county, so that we can move forward to the state convention and the national convention,” he said.

As chairman, Barrier said his job is simple, but not always easy. “My job is to get candidates elected,” he said. He would like to see more Republicans throw their hats into the ring to run for local office.

“Come in and help us and show us what you want us to do,” he said, inviting the community to attend the upcoming Vance County convention. “It’s ‘us,’” he said. “It’s our party.”

Barrier said everyone is welcome to attend the Vance GOP convention, but only registered Republicans will be able to take part in any votes during the business portion; registration and credentialing begins at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Scheduled to speak are State Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes and N.C. Rep Frank Sossamon.

Magnanti said State Treasurer Dale Folwell heads up a long list of speakers, including elected officials as well as other candidates running for office.

“This is a great meeting to…get to see what’s going on,” he said. “This is a great one to come to.”

The county conventions are certainly a time to conduct the business of the organization, but Woodson said, “it’s definitely a rally and it’s a community outreach.” Calling local conventions the grassroots of this nation’s political system, he continued by saying, “This is where it really all happens. “People are getting interested…they want to hear some answers and hear some options.”

Vance County GOP:

vancegop@gmail.com or find Vance County NC Republican Party on Facebook

Granville County GOP:

www.granvillegop.org or email info@granvillegop.org; find them on Facebook and Twitter

Warren County GOP:

warrennc.gop@gmail.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

TownTalk: The Future of Economic Development in Vance County

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Economic development across Vance County seems to be perking up, and if 2022’s report is any indication, the trend is on an upward trajectory.

County Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson is scheduled to present a review of 2022 at tonight’s monthly meeting of the county commissioners, and she’s going to paint a rosy picture.

She joined John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk and hit some of the highlights from last year, but looked forward to the coming months to talk about what’s on the horizon for Vance County.  (Listen Here)

Between investments and expansion, 2022 brought more than $12 million to the county, Perkinson said. “That’s a very positive number for Vance County,” she noted.

This year will see the completion of the shell building during Phase III at the industrial park, as well as an additional 19,000 square-foot building that will be marketed as flex retail space.

“Steel is actually going up on the walls today,” Perkinson said of the shell building. The additional flex retail space will hopefully be a place that will offer restaurant space for workers to grab during the day as well as provide some retail opportunities for area residents.

The bids are set to go out soon to identify a contractor to complete the additional sewer line project and road paving at the industrial park.

With more than $760,000 in federal grant money, coupled with more from the N.C. Department of Commerce, this project will result in completed water and sewer lines and replacement of the current gravel road into the park, Perkinson said.

There are many signs of economic activity across the county, from expansions at M.R. Williams, Robco and Walmart to new retail shopping and restaurants – Perkinson listed Marshall’s, Petco, Jersey Mike’s and the new construction of Mazatlan on Ruin Creek Road – “there’s a lot of big investments being made in the county.”

Perkinson said Robco is “a huge asset to have as an industry partner in Vance County.” The aluminum dock manufacturer got its start here and now sends its products to be installed in lakes and waterways across the country.

Robco and the industrial park are located very close to U.S. 1, which connects Vance County with points south, including Raleigh.

Perkinson said Vance County is well positioned to land more business and industry from counties like Wake and Durham where land is at a premium.

Those small- to medium-sized companies are “looking north,” she said, for more affordable spots to set up shop. Having a completed shell building will “put us a little bit ahead of the competition.”

The downtown area also is getting a bump in interest, with the addition of several new businesses along Garnett Street. “We have hit the ground running,” said Perkinson, who also serves on the Downtown Development Commission. “It’s truly amazing to see all the businesses that are opening up in Henderson…(people) have access to so many things that weren’t here before.”

The Bridges on Parkview is another such example – it’s an upscale assisted living retirement community, Perkinson said, that’s going up beside the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

The construction alone will create about 40 jobs, she said, and, once completed, it will offer a nice independent living option for older residents looking to simplify their lifestyle.

 

 

TownTalk: Geneaology Basics, Pt. 2

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There is so much information at our fingertips in the 21st century world of genealogy, but people who want to learn more about their ancestors still have to use those tried-and-true research to obtain the most accurate results.

Bill Harris and Mark Pace, North Carolina Room Specialist at Oxford’s Thornton Library discussed different types of records, from family Bibles to courthouse files in Thursday’s tri-weekly history segment of TownTalk.

Before the days of online subscriptions that help individuals fill in family tree information, genealogists had to go to the source; oftentimes, that was the local courthouse.

“The court was all powerful back in the day,” Pace said, adding that you can find “all sorts of crazy records,” from the usual wills and deeds, to the bounty that someone was paid for bringing in a wolf hide.

Court records are considered “primary sources,” Pace said, as are family Bibles, tombstones and church records.

“Secondary sources are a little trickier to document,” he continued. A secondary source may be something like a newspaper article or obituary and books on local history, all of which technically contain second-hand information.

Of course, there are many books that chronicle the history of a place or a family that are considered very reliable and upon which many genealogists rely for information.

Pace said in his 40-plus years of researching history of some sort or another, he said it’s always gratifying to find that bit of missing information that had previously eluded him.

“You’ll hear a ‘whoopee’ in a quiet library,” he said, and it’s a sure sign that another researcher has found an elusive tidbit as well. “They’ve found what they’re looking for,” he said. “It‘s very rewarding.”

 

 

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TownTalk: Economic Summit To Be Held In Littleton

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments and the Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board are teaming up to host a regional economic development summit later this month with the theme “Innovate 2023: Question. Design. Thrive.”

The half-day event will take place in Littleton at the Lakeland Cultural Arts Center on Thursday, Mar. 23 and will be packed with workshops, panel discussions, guest speakers and more, according to information from the KTCOG.

Participants from Region K, which includes the four-county area that WIZS serves will “explore the power of innovation, and its ability to ignite change within,” said Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, KTCOG’s communications & administrative coordinator.

Registration is required by Mar. 21. To register, visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org/innovate-2023/

The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During that time, speakers will cover a range of issues including how failure and resilience can lead to innovation, challenging bias and creating room for innovation in hiring practices and workplace culture, self-determination, innovative education for a more purpose-driven workforce and more. Participants will hear from a variety of speakers on relevant issues and be challenged to think about solutions to problems in new and innovative ways.

The workshop kicks off with an activity called “Unlocking Your Innovative Spirit,” courtesy of Innovate Carolina. Author and entrepreneur Inez Ribustello will share her thoughts on becoming resilient through experiencing personal tragedy, and a panel discussion on innovative human resource practices and innovative approaches in education.

This event is for anyone who has a stake in the economic future of the workforce, and specifically human resources, hiring managers, educators, government  employees, small business owners, executive directors and CEOs.

Collaborative partners include: Franklin County Economic Development Commission, Granville County Economic Development Commission, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Person County Economic  Development Commission, Piedmont Community College, Vance-Granville  Community College, Granville County Chamber of Commerce, Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Person County Tourism Development Authority,  Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission, Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, and Warren County Economic Development Commission.

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Downtown Henderson

TownTalk: Shamrocks Coming To Downtown Henderson

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Make plans to visit downtown Henderson on St. Patrick’s Day for Shamrocks on Breckenridge. You may not find a pot of gold, but there will be plenty of other items to enjoy, from food trucks to live music.

Amanda Walker Ellis, vice chair of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission board invites the community to join in the fun on Friday, Mar. 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ellis spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk about this event and other activities on the horizon.

There’s still time to be listed as a sponsor; there are several levels to choose from: Leprechaun for $250, Shamrock for $500 and Pot O’ Gold for $1,000.

Ellis said last year’s event got some good feedback, and plans are shaping up for another fun time this year.

People enjoyed being outside and downtown, she noted. In addition to the food trucks, music and dancing, a variety of community organizations will be on hand to share information about services and resources.

Events like Shamrocks on Breckenridge do more than just provide entertainment, Ellis said. They also serve to shine a positive light on the community.

The negative stuff always gets broadcast, she said, but positive news like Shamrocks helps residents feel “proud of where you are – trying to make it a better place all around,” Ellis said.

Other events being planned include a downtown Juneteenth celebration and the annual gala that has become known as Downtown Live on Young, which features live music and outdoor dining.

“We’ve got stuff coming up,” Ellis said. “It’s steadily coming in and we’re working on it.

Right now, Shamrocks on Breckenridge is the main focus,” she noted, adding that future events will fall into place.

The planning for all these events comes amid a renewed effort to collaborate with other local groups, including the local tourism authority. The DDC also has recently decided on a new logo and is currently undergoing a website makeover.

“We’re all trying to work together rather than independently,” Ellis said. It shouldn’t be long before the new website is up and running, and the address is the same: www.hendersonncdowntown.org.

To learn more, contact Ellis at

amanda@rogersandrogerslawyers.com or amandaleigh486@hotmail.com or call Dr. Alice Sallins at 252-767-4579.

 

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TownTalk: Rural Water Apprenticeships Are Available

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How many times a day do you use water?

Morning showers, preparing a pot of coffee or washing dishes after a meal are just a few of the many ways we use water throughout the day. We turn on the spigot and expect clean, safe water to come flowing out.

But it takes a lot of work to ensure our water is potable and safe to use, and Carolyn Bynum of the N.C. Rural Water Association has a startling statistic for all of us: Over the next five years, water systems will lose more than half of their current employees, mostly through retirement.

And so just who is stepping up to fill those jobs?

NCRWA’s apprenticeship program works year-round to identify prospective employees and place them in paid positions, creating a win-win situation for people who want to work in the field and for those water systems who need employees.

People who work in water system plants and wastewater plants are very essential front-line workers, she noted. “If we don’t have clean water, everything dies,” Bynum said. “It sounds drastic, but in reality, it’s true,” she added.

Bynum is the NCRWA’s workforce development coordinator and she explained the apprenticeship program to John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.

The program functions much like traditional apprenticeships, with one big exception – the NCRWA apprentices are paid while they complete the extensive classroom instruction and on-the-job training.

Her agency has placed 20 apprentices in the three years or so since the apprenticeship program  was registered with N.C. Department of Labor. Three more apprentices just completed the two-year process and they’ll be placed soon, too.

And although apprentices will be learning the intricacies of the water industry, Bynum said NCRWA strives to provide participants with occupational training that can be applied across workplaces, not just the water industry.

“We want them to have a broad view of the industry,” she said. There’s a huge growth potential in the industry that often goes unnoticed by those entering the work force.

Applications can be submitted at any time; Bynum said the industry is always looking for qualified workers to make sure customers have clean water.

She said she gets calls all the time from water systems asking for help finding employees.

The apprenticeship program allows new employees to gain experience as they learn from seasoned workers. “You don’t want to wait until they retire,” she said.

After an application is submitted, the process continues sort of like a job interview. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Apprentices complete 288 hours of classroom instruction and 4,000 hours of on-the-job training during the two-year program.

At the end of each 1,000-hour period, apprentices are required to meet milestones to show progress. This successful completion every six months or so results in a wage increase.

It’s a plus if a candidate has good math skills, but Bynum said her agency provides supplemental services to shore up basic math skills when needed. “Math is such a huge part of the industry,” she said. There are always charts to read, measurements to take and gauges to monitor to ensure systems are functioning properly.

Water systems and water treatment systems operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Bynum said.

“It’s recession proof.”

Visit www.ncrwa.org to learn more or contact Bynum at 743.202.0971 or apprenticeship@ncrwa.org.

 

 

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TownTalk: Purr Partners Prepares For Kitten Season

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Having a pet can be a wonderful experience – who doesn’t love the idea of a cute little furr ball greeting you when you come home after a hard day’s work?

But with pet ownership comes responsibilities, in addition to general care and trips to the vet, and Lawanna Johnson sees the consequences first-hand when pet owners don’t live up to their end of the bargain.

Johnson is president and founder of Purr Partners, a feline rescue dedicated to saving cats and kittens and finding them forever homes.

The nonprofit was established in 2009 on a shoestring budget and today thrives as a leading rescue, foster and adoption facility for cats and kittens. Johnson spoke with WIZS’s Bill Harris Thursday on a recurring segment of TownTalk called Pets and People.

“There is really an epidemic right now going on of cats being dumped everywhere,” she said. Five years ago, Johnson and others in the rescue world could identify a “kitten season,” usually in the spring, with little or no kittens in February or March. But now, “kitten season is really becoming year-round here in North Carolina,” she said.

Whether it’s because of the economy or because of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the spay/neuter clinics, there are a lot of cats and kittens making their way into shelters and rescue organizations like Purr Partners.

And they’re not in great health. “It’s heartbreaking,” Johnson said. “They’re not thriving, they’re not surviving.” It costs thousands of dollars to get them healthy, she added. Dollars that come from the generosity of regular donors and from fundraisers, like the Purr Partners “Black Cat Bash” held in October each year.

Purr Partners relies on donations and fundraisers to continue their work, which includes taking adoptable cats to three Petsmart locations in the Wake Forest/Raleigh area.

Volunteers are on hand from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each weekend at the PetSmarts in Wake Forest, and the stores at Capital Blvd. and Millbrook Road and Six Forks and Strickland.

Adoptions begin with an application, which provides Purr Partners staff with information to help find the perfect match.

“You’re making hopefully a lifetime commitment,” Johnson said. “You want it to be happy and you want to be happy with it,” she said of the cat or kitten that you choose.

But realistically speaking, thing don’t always work out. And that’s ok. Purr Partners has a two-week trial period, so it it doesn’t work out, you can bring the cat back and either try again or get your adoption fee refunded.

Visit https://www.purrpartners.org/ to see the cats available for adoption or to sign up to volunteer.

 

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TownTalk: Osteopathic Medicine Helps with Those Aches And Pains

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There are lots of reasons why people develop arthritis – either we’re genetically predisposed to achy joints, we’ve suffered an injury that later brings on pain or it could be just simple wear-and-tear on our bodies that produces the aches and pains we associate with getting older.

But Mark Messmer, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, says treatment of arthritis is not a one-size-fits-all approach. And people who suffer with some forms of arthritis may have more options today than they would have had, say, 20 or more years ago.

Messmer has been practicing osteopathic medicine at Maria Parham Health since he left the Navy back in the summer of 2022. He spoke with John C. Rose Wednesday on TownTalk about his experiences in the Navy and how the journey that led him to Henderson.

During his service with the Navy, he said he got to treat military personnel coming back from war. “That really pushed me into orthopedics,” he said, adding that is the area where he felt he could make the biggest contribution.

He said it is gratifying to be able to offer someone a potentially life-changing surgery.

When he left military service, he said he was looking to work in a small community with a community hospital. He and his wife both are from Michigan, and after experiencing one relatively mild North Carolina winter while Messmer was at Camp Lejeune, they both decided it was way better than freezing in Michigan.

With close to 10 years of practice now under his belt, Messmer said he’s seen advances in the way the medical community can help arthritis sufferers.

And he offers some practical advice for anyone who is dealing with what he calls “little nagging injuries:” Don’t ignore them.

“It’s always good to get it checked out,” Messmer said, instead of brushing it off or ignoring it. Often, those conditions simply progress, which cause bigger problems sooner rather than later, he said. And once that happens, he said treatment options narrow.

If you think of the cartilage in your joints like the treads on a tire, you can understand that the cartilage, like the treads, wear over time. And although tires can be replaced, it’s not quite that simple with cartilage.

In some cases, the whole joint can be replaced – think knees and hips.

But there are things that can slow the progression of cartilage loss – from exercises that decrease stress on joints to reducing inflammation that causes the cartilage to break down in the first place.

Surgery isn’t always the first – or best – treatment option, Messmer said.

There are many options to consider before surgery, including the use of braces and injections.

In the months that he’s been working in Henderson, he said he’s seen patients with arthritis in their hips, knees and shoulders, as well as rotator cuff problems and lower back pain.

In some cases, less invasive treatments can do the trick, and Messmer said lots of patients find relief from braces, or steroid injections, or regular visits to the chiropractor.

“The last thing people want to hear about is surgery,” Messmer said. “If you’re seeing a chiropractor and you’re getting results, by all means keep doing it.” As long as symptoms aren’t worsening, he said, keep using the less invasive options.

Joint replacements are lasting longer now, and Messmer said it’s possible that we’ll see  robotics-style devices being used in the future. “It’s not for every patient,” Messmer said, “but certain patients with complex joints could benefit” from robotics devices.

There were fewer options for patients with arthritis 30 years ago, but fast-forward to today and there are all different types of treatment, including using different lubrications in joints that mimic cartilage.

Providing pain relief for mild to moderate arthritis, in some cases, keeps surgery at bay for years, he added.

Make an appointment with Messmer or his colleagues at Maria Parham Health’s orthopedics office to learn what options may be best suited for you. Call 252.436.1314 or visit https://www.mariaparham.com to schedule a visit.

 

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