TownTalk: On The Radio 2-19-24
Listen to this edition of TownTalk from Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 from John Charles Rose!
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TownTalk: SBI Reports Arrest In Connection With Warren County Woman’s Body Found In Vance County Pond
— Information from N.C. State Bureau of Investigation website
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) received information regarding the location of a suspect in a missing person case from Warren County, NC. As a result, 37-year-old Bryan David Griffin Jr. was located at a hotel on Ocean Blvd in Myrtle Beach, SC. He has been taken into custody by personnel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. The SBI would also like to thank the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating Griffin.
In January 2024, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office requested the SBI’s assistance regarding a missing person case from 2023. Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on November 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, NC. On January 30, 2025, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the Youngsville Rescue and EMS Dive Team, and the SBI, conducted searches in Vance County. While searching a pond near Henderson, possible human remains were discovered. These remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and were confirmed to be those of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her family has been informed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Griffin has been charged with concealment of a death and is currently awaiting an extradition hearing at a Myrtle Beach Detention Facility. No further information is available at this time.
This morning, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) received information regarding the location of a suspect in a missing person case from Warren County, NC. As a result, 37-year-old Bryan David Griffin Jr. was located at a hotel on Ocean Blvd in Myrtle Beach, SC. He has been taken into custody by personnel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. The SBI would also like to thank the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating Griffin.
In January 2024, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office requested the SBI’s assistance regarding a missing person case from 2023. Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on November 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, NC. On January 30, 2025, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the Youngsville Rescue and EMS Dive Team, and the SBI, conducted searches in Vance County. While searching a pond near Henderson, possible human remains were discovered. These remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and were confirmed to be those of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her family has been informed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Griffin has been charged with concealment of a death and is currently awaiting an extradition hearing at a Myrtle Beach Detention Facility. No further information is available at this time.
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TownTalk: Commissioners Question District 3 Hopefuls
In a special called meeting Monday afternoon, Vance County Commissioners heard from the four candidates vying for the open District 3 seat on the board.
At the conclusion of the meeting, which lasted less than an hour, Chairwoman Carolyn Faines said she would like to reconvene next week – at a second special called meeting – to vote on which individual will be appointed to fill the seat vacated by Sean Alston more than a month ago. That meeting will take place Monday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room.
The four individuals are Doyle Carpunky, Charisse Fain, Jeanette Floyd and Charles J. Turrentine, Jr. They spoke, in turn, to commissioners about their vision, goals and experiences that they feel will help them if selected to fill Alston’s unexpired term.
Although the commissioners had received copies of their applications, several asked additional questions, ranging from their views on economic growth and the current jail situation to whether they’d consider running for the seat when it is next up for a vote in the 2026 election.
Turrentine, said he had planned to run in the previous election, but deferred to Alston after the two discussed the matter.
All four said they would plan to run for the seat when their appointed term ends.
Turrentine said his main goal is having a positive impact on young people.
“We’ve got to focus on our kids at an early age,” he said, to impress upon them the value of getting an education, a job and making contributions where you live.
“Education and public safety go hand in hand,” Turrentine said. “We’ve got to support our law enforcement…everybody has that right to feel safe.” Once the county has a handle on education and public safety, economic growth is sure to follow.
Fain, a registered nurse for more than 25 years, currently is a district director for clinical services for more than a dozen senior living facilities in the region. She said the county needs more services and programs for people who need mental health support, whether to address immediate needs or long-term needs like transition housing and recovery programs.
Floyd has been a pastor for more than two decades and has been the co-chair of Community Partners of Hope for the past couple of years.
In remarks to the commissioners, Floyd said she didn’t consider herself so much a politician as “a servant leader…making a difference in the lives of the people here.”
She cited the need for jobs and affordable housing in the county. Bringing in new industry creates opportunities for people to earn money so they can afford their housing, she said.
Carpunky said the county is moving forward in the right direction as far as attracting new business is concerned.
“We need to keep moving forward,” he said, “and not be detoured.” He said the countywide water system is an asset that is attractive to prospective business and industry.
Kerr Lake is another, he said.
“The houses are coming,” Carpunky said. “We have to make sure we have the services for them.”
Listen to the entire meeting at wizs.com to hear the prospective commissioners’ complete responses.
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TownTalk: Interest In And Options For Public Transportation Growing In The Area
UPDATE 2-18-25: Because of the weather, the Transportation Town Hall has been re-scheduled for March 17, 2025.
A community town hall-style meeting on the topic of public transportation is scheduled for Monday, March 17 in Oxford to provide information about the types of public transportation that are available now and to help shape the future of ride programs in smaller towns and cities and throughout rural areas.
The meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Orange Street Community Center, 125 Orange St., and is hosted by Down Home, NC, a grassroots non-profit organization interested in improving transportation for low-income residents.
KARTS, the local provider in the Kerr-Tar COG area, recently made the decision to drop the downtown shuttle in Henderson. Simply put, it was too expensive to continue, according to KARTS Director Randy Cantor, who told WIZS News that an Uber-style plan is scheduled to kick off in the next couple of months.
Cantor said he’d just gotten word from the state last week that the micro-transit plan is a go.
But Down Home, NC members Fred Johnson of Butner and Michael Hayes of Henderson said their organization feels that the estimated $5/trip one way cost is too much.
Among other things, the Thursday meeting will be a time to ask NCDOT representatives to set policy that makes micro-transit “fare free” for an introductory period.
Johnson said Brennon Fuqua, NCDOT’s director of its Integrated Mobility division has been invited to take part. State Sen. Terence Everitt, who represents Granville and Wake counties also will be in attendance, Johnson said.
A free fare period will go a long way to help change people’s behaviors and encourage them to use the micro transit option. “If we’re going to get people out of their cars,” lower fares than a $5 per trip fee are needed.
Johnson said he would like to see a point-to-point system, for example, to take people from a central location to the grocery store.
Hayes said he got involved in Down Home, NC last summer, upon hearing that the Around Town Shuttle was being discontinued. Hayes said he has used KARTS, as has his father, who uses a motorized scooter, to get shopping done.
“It just wasn’t feasible for KARTS to do it anymore,” Cantor said of providing the Around Town Shuttle. When the micro transit option begins, Cantor said he hopes to be able to provide a 15-20-minute turnaround time for riders. And, he said he’d like to be able to replicate the service in other counties in the future.
Cantor said people who need to use KARTS will be able to make a reservation via a smart phone app or computer, but they also will be able to pick up the phone and call to request transportation.
The smartphone app takes reservations and payments, he said. KARTS has a brand-new vehicle to use for the micro transit system that can accommodate wheelchairs, he said.
Visit downhomenc.org to learn more about the organization.
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TownTalk: Mobility Hub Funding
The Henderson City Council made its selection Monday for where the Mobility Hub would be located, which in turn sets in motion the next steps for the overall plan to bring passenger rail service back to Henderson.
The Council chose the iconic downtown First National Bank building over the Garnett Street Station, even though – ironically – that building once served as a train depot.
City and NCDOT officials presented both sites to the Council during its Feb. 10 meeting, complete with artist renderings and a list of pros and cons for each potential site.
Ultimately, the Council voted for the bank building, which has been vacant for decades.
It is unclear just how much it will cost to renovate the building in preparation for use as a mobility hub, which is one component included in the $21 million train station project.
If the mobility hub needed to be completed right now, the city would need to foot the bill. According to information from City Public Information Officer Salonia Saxton, however, that mobility hub won’t be needed for several more years – which gives local and NCDOT staff a bit of time to identify funding sources to help defray the cost.
Building construction and renovation, parcel acquisition, site development and a pedestrian railroad overpass are just a few of the facets of the project the city expects to fund, Saxton said.
She said the mobility hub is a supporting facility to the rail station and its platforms and is only a part of the $21 million estimate.
Next up for the site is completion of an environmental study by NCDOT.
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TownTalk: Council Amends Mayor’s Office Project And Programming Budget
The Henderson City Council approved a resolution Monday that amends the Projects and Programming Budget to include $5,000 to be used by Mayor Melissa Elliott to pay for training and other programs she attends in her role as mayor.
The vote was 4-1, with Council member Sam Seifert casting the no vote. Voting in favor were Council members Michael Venable, Geraldine Champion, Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Tami Walker. Council members Sara Coffey, Garry Daeke and Lamont Noel were absent.
“We’re not asking for more money,” City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry explained during the meeting, “we’re asking for the purpose to be expanded.”
Champion and Thorpe-Cooper both expressed support and said in the meeting that Elliott shouldn’t have to pay out-of-pocket for the various trainings she attends in her role as mayor.
“I see it as being unfair for her to have to come out of pocket…for training for the city,” Champion said.
Thorpe-Cooper agreed, adding that the trainings are beneficial. “We’re being taught – we’re being trained – so we can better serve. I am all in favor of it.”
Given the fact that the city has instituted a hiring freeze – an indication that revenues are not flowing in as predicted at this point – Seifert said he would prefer that the city consider using “fiscal constraint” at least while the hiring freeze is in effect.
He suggested that the city “keep the scope narrow as it was defined so that we show our part in keeping expenses down…while we’re under a freeze.”
According to the resolution presented to Council on Monday, the $5,000 is “subject to the fiscal controls and standard operating procedures currently in place and administered through the City’s Finance Department.”
The resolution further explains that Elliott has created several ad hoc committees created to help the city’s elected officials better understand the community with its diverse needs and desire for inclusivity, and that there needs to be a “nominal” budget to cover reasonable and justifiable expenses that arise with those committees and other special projects, continuing education, conferences, seminars and other programs.
Any expenditure would require approval by the city manager.
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TownTalk: City Council Removes Daeke As Mayor Pro Tem, Replaces Him With Michael Venable
The Henderson City Council on Monday voted to remove Council Member Garry Daeke as mayor pro tem and replace him with Council Member Michael Venable.
Daeke was not present at the meeting but told WIZS News Tuesday afternoon that he was not totally surprised by the decision.
“We saw this coming a month or so ago,” Daeke said, referring to the Council’s December meeting when Council member Geraldine Champion inquired about appointing a new mayor pro tem. “I had thought it was going to happen at some point, but I didn’t particularly know it would be last night,” he said.
“Childish shenanigans is what I’d call it,” he said. He said he had no idea why the change was made, in the middle of what normally is a two-year appointment, but said the Council needs to be talking about infrastructure, roads, water system and other matters that will help city residents.
“When you don’t know why it’s being done, you try to figure out what’s the reason behind it,” Daeke mused. “I don’t see any logic behind it – I see emotion or something else.” He described himself as someone who likes to have information before making decisions and not someone who automatically agrees with everything being said. “I like information and like to know both sides of the issue and I like to make my decisions based on informed information,” he said. “And I don’t think that’s appreciated.”
The mayor pro tem’s role is to fill in for the mayor when needed. And Daeke said he had only been called on a couple of times to fill in for Mayor Melissa Elliott, which he did.
“I wasn’t being utilized…for whatever reason,” he said. “You’re only utilized when you’re called to be utilized.”
Monday’s vote was 4-1, with Council Member Sam Seifert casting the no vote on the motion to make Venable the mayor pro tem, which was made by Council Member Geraldine Champion and seconded by Council Member Tami Walker. Champion, Walker, Venable and Council Member Ola Thorpe-Cooper voted in favor of the motion.
In addition to Daeke, also absent were Council Members Sara Coffey and Lamont Noel.
The vote took place after the council returned to the open meeting following a closed session to discuss a lawsuit, but it was not listed on the agenda as an item for discussion. Neither was that portion of the meeting available via livestream as the first part of the meeting; according to City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell, the IT person left the meeting after the council went into closed session.
City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry told WIZS News Tuesday that he was “unaware that the Council would be removing Councilman Daeke yesterday,” and added that he had no other details than what was provided in the meeting.
According to information from the UNC School of Government, councils must choose a mayor pro tem at the organizational meeting, but it also can choose – with or without cause – to “vote to remove the MPT at any time, and appoint a new one.”
There was no discussion following the motion and the second before the vote was called.
WIZS News has reached out to Venable, Champion and Elliott for comment, but have not heard back as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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TownTalk: Carolina Peanut Factory, Deli Rekindle Local Retail Outlet Following Fire
Carol Monahan said she and husband John thought they were going to have a peanut store with a little deli on the side, but the way things are going, it’s the other way around – the Deli has been open for about six months and Carol said they’ve been thrilled with the response from the community and beyond.
The Monahans opened The Peanut Roaster on Zeb Robinson Road in 1995 and for years sold gourmet nut products – including those famous super, extra-large peanuts – at the store in Henderson and online.
After a brief stint in “retirement,” the Monahans are back in their Zeb Robinson Road location, creating those tins of delicious nuts again. But this go-round, customers can order specialty sandwiches, soups and breakfast items from the deli.
The building was significantly damaged in a fire several years ago, and Carol said it was their son, Josh, who spurred them back into business.
“We need to be in the peanut business again,” she remembered him saying to his parents soon after the fire.
And, so, after a couple of years of reconstruction and remodeling, the store – almost called “Phoenix” because it rose from the proverbial ashes – is known as The Carolina Peanut Factory.
After the Monahans retired from The Peanut Roaster business, they pivoted to help son Josh with his own business, the Carolina Kettle potato chip brand.
The Carolina Peanut Factory is a “comeback” of sorts for Carol and John. “We started helping our son with the potato chips – he was our boss,” Carol said.
After the fire, they began to think about reimagining the space. They wanted a spot where they could showcase those crunchy, delicious peanuts but they also wanted a spot where folks could sit for a while, bring the whole family and enjoy an array of specialty, handcrafted sandwiches.
“We wanted it to be an experience,” she said. “That’s really what we were looking for.”
Stop by the store and check out special treats especially for Valentine’s Day – that’s this Friday, for you procrastinators – there are big, heart-shaped decorated cookies and chocolate-dipped strawberries (pre-sold only) alongside those tins of gourmet nuts.
Right now, the store is observing winter hours of operation 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visit ncpeanutfactory.com to see the deli menu, sandwich selections and more.
What you won’t find on the menu is fries.
“We have the best potato chips around,” Carol said. Josh’s Carolina Kettle chips. Choose from 11 flavors.
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(This is not a paid ad. However, The Carolina Peanut Factory is a sponsor on WIZS Radio.)
TownTalk: Community Information Series To Feature Mayor Elliott
Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott can be found at the city building on Rose Avenue for monthly Council meetings, but you’re also likely to spot her most anywhere across town in any number of places promoting the city and supporting its residents.
Elliott was at the Senior Center Thursday morning to help senior adults create “vision boards.”
And on Tuesday, Feb. 11, she’ll be the speaker at the Community Information Series at Baskerville Funeral Home.
The title of the program, which runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., is “Understanding City Government.”
“There are a lot of things that people don’t understand about city government,” Elliott said on Thursday’s TownTalk. She wants everyone to understand that no one person makes all the decisions or all the rules.
“We work as a team,” she said of herself, Council members and city staff, “and that’s how we pass law…(and) govern the city.
She said the elected officials need to be available to their constituents. “We want to hear what people have to say,” she added.
The business of government is about people, Elliott emphasized. The whole business of governing IS people, she said, and it’s important for the city to invest in its people.
“We are in the business of helping people and moving a community forward,” she said, even when resources are scarce.
The vision board activity is part of the mayor’s health and wellness initiative, and it’s one way to invest in people.
Today, it’s senior adults, and a month ago, she spent time with a bunch of teens as they created their own vision boards. It’s a way to focus on positive mental health practices, she noted. Participants create a collage of how they want to “see” themselves – healthy and happy and secure.
Spending time with folks as they create these boards is also a way Elliott gets to interact with constituents
“You put on your board what you want to look like and what you want your city to look like,” she said.
She said she welcomes people’s comments because their voice matters – whether it’s a complaint or praise.
Reach out to Elliott at 252.425.5220 or call the city clerk at 252.430.5705 to learn more.
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TownTalk: Vance County Commissioners Vote To Accept Audit Report
The Vance County Board of Commissioners received and accepted the most recent audit report as part of its Feb. 3 meeting.
It’s a routine matter for the board, but County Attorney Jonathan Care asked a few questions of Alan Thompson, who presented the report to the board and reviewed highlights.
Care wasn’t so much concerned numbers or findings – he simply wanted to know the auditor’s opinion about the level of cooperation his firm had received from current staff.
In the previous audit presentation in June 2024, commissioners heard a number of concerns ranging from a lack of training and cross-training of staff to lack of oversight by the previous finance director.
“Do you have the same concerns that you had about some of our staff this year that you had in previous years?” Care asked Thompson.
“No,” Thompson replied.
Care continued, saying “You made it sound like you had a lot more concerns than any of us sitting around this dais understood or gathered from your previous presentations. So, rather than relying on your reports and presentations, I’m asking you specifically: Do you still have those concerns about any of our staff and the findings that you found during this audit process?
Again, Thompson’s answer was “No.”
He added to his answer and explained that he had contacted Finance Director Stephanie Wiliams and County Manager C. Renee Perry on a regular basis during the most recent audit and got “positive responses.”
Perry began her job as county manager in November 2023; Williams came on board in April 2024.
Board Chair Carolyn Faines commended Perry and her administrative staff for their work on the most recent audit. “They have done a wonderful job and they have worked very hard to put this audit together. I commend you all and thank you all for a job well done.”
Perry accepted Faines’s remarks, adding her own thanks to Williams and the finance staff because “she inherited a mess and I think we all know that.
“For us to have turned it around in the short period that we have, I’m very proud of my staff.”
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