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Mark Pace, local historian and director of the NC Room at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.
Pace and WIZS’ own Bill Harris discussed the beginnings of Vance County and the first families to settle in the area.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Lucette Mercer, deputy director of Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc. (GRRO), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Mercer discussed the recent news that GRRO has hired 25 health workers to serve communities in Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Nash, Pitt, Halifax and Wake Counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residing in the areas they are serving, Mercer explained that these health workers serve as a liaison between health and social organizations in the community, connecting people to the resources and services they need.
GRRO, a non-profit organization, has focused on providing access to healthy food and meals to people in the Kerr-Tar region. Their recent initiative, “Wellness on Wheels,” provided area youth with free healthy meals over the summer.
“GRRO has been known for our farmers market, food, produce, garden and farming activities,” said Mercer. “This time, we’ve really put our sights on combating the impact that COVID-19 has had in our communities.”
Working with local county health departments, the trained health workers assist families and individuals with coordinating referrals and service delivery. In addition, workers can help those diagnosed with COVID-19, those asked to quarantine due to a possible exposure or those at high risk of complications from the virus get food, groceries and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among other items.
“Workers can help residents quarantine with the support they need to do so successfully and not have to go out in the community during their two-week quarantine period,” Mercer explained.
Henry Crews, the executive director of GRRO, noted in a recent press release, “We saw the devastation that the pandemic has brought to our community, and we used our organizational flexibility to expand our programming and grow our team to reach the ever-increasing numbers of rural residents who have been impacted by the Coronavirus.”
In partnership with Curamericas Global, Duke Family Medicine & Community Health and the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, GRRO has joined a statewide network of agencies providing outreach services. These efforts are made possible by Federal funding from The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
For additional information, please call (252) 430-7999 or visit www.grronc.org.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
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Marcia Allen, the acting chairperson of the Vance County Democratic Party, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Allen said she is “excited” about the energy coming through the Vance County Democratic headquarters located at 131 S. Garnett St. in Henderson and urged the public to visit or call (252) 204-2606 with questions or comments.
Before casting a ballot in this election, Allen said it is imperative that voters consider issues from “a people standpoint, not a personal standpoint.”
“You may not be impacted directly by Medicaid, food stamps or access to healthcare, but someone in your family or someone close to you will be impacted by these issues that are on the ballot,” stated Allen.
Allen continued, “It really boils down to the haves, and the have nots. The haves are trying to take everything and keep everything from the have nots. The Democratic Party is a party for the people, not just the haves but the haves and the have nots.”
Addressing absentee ballots, Allen reminded the public that those who initiate the absentee ballot request process and then decide to vote in-person must contact their local Board of Elections (BOE) office to void the mail-in process.
One-Stop Early Voting for the November 3, 2020 General Election will be available for Vance County voters October 15-31 at the Aycock Recreation Complex and Henderson Operation Center (click here for more details, including dates and times).
“Please go vote,” Allen encouraged. “There are a number of things on the ballot other than names that will impact us. We don’t want to wake up on November 4 and not have access to the liberties that we were accustomed to.”
To hear the interview with Allen in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This is not a paid political advertisement)
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Thomas “Tommy” Hester, Jr., the Republican candidate for the District 3 NC Senate seat, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Hester, of Vance County, will face Democratic candidate and Bertie County resident Ernestine Bazemore for the seat that represents Beaufort, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Vance and Warren County. Current District 3 Senator Erica Smith-Ingram is running for US Senate and will not seek re-election to the state senate.
Graduating from Campbell University in 1971, Hester returned to Henderson where he worked at Carolina Cooling & Heating and was later promoted to president of the company.
Hester also graduated from Officer Candidate School (O.C.S.), becoming platoon leader with the 878 Engineering Company for three years.
He currently owns Prim Residential Rentals where he develops residential and commercial property in Vance County.
Community achievements, past and present, include:
Hester provided the following responses, in part, to questions asked during the Town Talk segment:
Why is now the right time for you to seek the NC Senate seat?
“I’ve spent 15 years as a County Commissioner. I’ve tried to help with jobs and economic development in Vance County, and I see an opportunity, with no incumbent, to run for this office to do more for Vance County and the other five counties.”
How will your voice represent the needs and wants of the six counties in District 3?
“I have worked tirelessly on the Golden LEAF Board and the Rural Infrastructure Authority in Raleigh to bring jobs and education into our area. I’d like to expand that into these other counties.
For example, Vance is the only county out of the six to come up with a program to offer broadband for $39.95 to all homes. Mako Medical Laboratories in Vance County now has over 500 employees. We’ve brought in Select Products who will manufacture toilet paper, napkins and paper towels.
I want to see more growth and bring in more tax revenue, not by raising the rate, but by raising the basis. If you expand the basis, you end up getting more revenue and you can keep the tax rate lower.”
What do you want to accomplish in the Senate?
“I want to work with the Senate in Raleigh to bring as much of the taxpayer’s money from these counties back to these counties and help assist in getting jobs. Two things that go together more than anything else are jobs and education; you can’t put one before the other. When you create jobs, you create tax money and expand upon services such as fire protection, law enforcement, etc.”
How would you work with someone with different viewpoints or a different political party on issues such as Medicaid expansion?
“I’m not interested in party; I’m interested in jobs and education. The time I’ve spent has been about trying to do what’s right for the community and trying to get the quality of life better for every citizen in that area. I would love to do that and work with whoever is in the House in the future.”
For additional information on Hester and his campaign, visit his Facebook page at Tommy Hester 4 NC Senate Dist. 3 (click here).
To hear the interview in its entirety, including additional questions and responses from Hester, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal air time/coverage on WIZS.)
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Cathy Davis, counselor/accessibility coordinator/Student Assistance Program coordinator/Title IX investigator, at Vance-Granville Community College, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
Davis was the first of several guests scheduled to join Town Talk in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Domestic violence is on the rise, and this is another topic that we will not remain silent about,” she stated.
With a mixture of events for students and the general public, Davis said VGCC is committed to raising awareness and assist those experiencing abuse. “We are trying to keep the community in community college, and we are all about breaking down barriers to support.”
Upcoming VGCC Domestic Violence Awareness Events:
October 8 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Healthy Relationships Video Presentation Hosted by Safe Space (video via Zoom platform with a Q&A wrap session after the viewing)
October 15 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Drive-Thru Giveaway at Each of the Four VGCC Campuses
October 22 ~ Wear Purple and Post Encouraging Words of Support Via Hashtags
October 29 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – VGCC Website/Facebook Scavenger Hunt
Students will use the VGCC website or Facebook page to answer the following questions. The first four students to send answers to the scavenger hunt will receive a restaurant gift card. Please send the answers to Ruthie Davis at davisr@vgcc.edu.
In addition to events scheduled for October, VGCC offers a Student Assistance Program (SAP) to all students and their household members year-round for FREE!
The SAP offers help for personal, professional or school concerns by providing free, confidential, short-term counseling and personal consultation. Additionally, the SAP provides student-life resources for issues such as legal and financial consultation, online learning and resources.
For more information on SAP, please visit www.vgcc.edu/sap or call 1-800-633-3353.
For additional coverage on domestic violence awareness, please join WIZS live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. to hear discussions with the following scheduled guests:
Monday, October 12 – Infinite Possibilities, Inc.
Monday, October 19 – Families Living Violence Free
Thursday, October 22 – Debbie Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
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Karrie Fogg, co-owner of Fred’s Towing & Transport, Inc., appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m. Fogg discussed the recent news that Fred’s Towing & Transport was selected as Vance County’s 2019 Small Business of the Year.
Karrie and Fred Fogg were presented the award at a banquet held last week by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce at Henderson Country Club.
“It was an honor just to be nominated,” Fogg said. “To actually receive the award was an ecstatic moment for us.”
While the business office has set hours, Fogg said assistance is available to the public 24/7, 365 days a year.
Services include light, medium and heavy-duty towing, road service, emergency recovery, 50-ton rotator, crane services, mobile truck repairs, trailer repairs, mobile computer diagnostics, mobile welding, national tire accounts and a full-service shop. A transportation division is also available for equipment hauling needs.
For additional information on Fred’s Towing and its services, please visit www.fredstowing.com.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
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Joshua Towne, owner, operator and franchisee of Chick-fil-A in Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m. as part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
Towne announced that Chick-fil-A in Henderson will temporarily close at the end of the business day on Thursday, October 15, 2020, for remodeling. The store will remain closed for the duration of construction, which is expected to take approximately eight weeks.
Operating at its current location at 200 Trade Street in Henderson since 2004, the restaurant will undergo renovations to include new décor inside and out, a double lane drive-thru with canopy, a larger kitchen and a new parking lot with 25 additional parking spaces behind Advance Auto.
“Our volume and customer numbers have outgrown our current facility by three times its capacity,” explained Towne. “That’s because people here in Vance County and the surrounding areas have been so gracious to continue to purchase their food through us and allow us to continue to serve them.”
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington joined the Town Talk segment via phone to express the City’s well wishes.
“Chick-fil-A is one of our shining stars in the community and certainly a beacon for us,” Ellington said. “While this is an exciting time, we are a little sad that we are going to have to go two months or so without their service.”
Witnessing the crowds that flock to the local restaurant is encouraging for the community, said Ellington. “It’s been overwhelming to see the outpouring of love and support every day when I ride by there. I’m so happy and thankful that the Towne family is here with us. It means a lot to me personally and to the City.”
Sandra Wilkerson, events coordinator with the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, also joined Town Talk by phone to congratulate Towne. “We are so excited about your expansion and remodel of the Henderson Chick-fil-A. We are going to miss all that great food and outstanding service that’s beyond compare.”
The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Thursday, December 10.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid advertising sponsorship with Henderson Chick-fil-A.)
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Sennica Nicholson, chairperson for the Vance County Board of Elections, and Michele Brigandi, aging program coordinator with the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m. as part of a paid advertising sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.
Nicholson discussed voting requirements, voter registration, absentee mail-in ballots, early voting and answered some commonly asked questions. “We are in a very busy voting season,” Nicholson stated. “It’s no longer just an election time; we are now in an election season.”
Click Play for the Broadcast Audio
Voting Requirements/Deadlines
Basic voter requirements, according to Nicholson, include being at least 18-years-old, being a U.S. citizen and not being incarcerated.
The last day to register to vote in the November General Election is Friday, October 9, 2020. Forms submitted to the Vance County Board of Elections Office must be received by 5 p.m. on that date.
Early Voting
Those that miss the October 9 deadline can register and vote during one-stop early voting. Early voting begins October 15 and ends October 31, 2020.
Vance County’s early voting will be held at the Henderson Operation Center (900 S Beckford Dr., Henderson) and Aycock Recreation Complex (307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson). There will be no early voting at the Vance County Board of Elections Office for this election due to COVID restrictions.
Proof of residence is required to register to vote; however, no photo ID is required for this election.
Nicholson recommends that all first-time voters, as well as those who haven’t voted in some time, contact their local BOE office to make sure they are “on the books.” If there does appear to be an issue with registration, the BOE office can assist.
Vance Co. One-Stop Early Voting Schedule for the November 3, 2020, General Election
Locations: Aycock Recreation Complex and Henderson Operation Center
Absentee Mail-In Ballots
Addressing absentee ballots, Nicholson clarified, “Absentee mail-in ballots and voting by mail are the same thing. Anyone in NC can request an absentee ballot as long as they are a registered voter.”
This year, in NC, voters are not required to have a reason or give an explanation for requesting an absentee ballot.
Voters can request an absentee ballot by calling their local BOE office or by visiting the State Board of Elections website, printing the mail-in ballot request form and mailing the completed form to their local BOE. Mail-in request forms will be received by the BOE and logged into the system. An official absentee ballot will then be mailed back to the voter. The voter can then complete the ballot and return their vote by mail to their local BOE.
According to Nicholson, the absentee ballot will include a security sleeve, a self-addressed return envelope and barcodes on the documentation to identify the voter. “All legitimate mailings from your local BOE will be identified with the State BOE seal, as well as your local BOE address and information,” she said.
In Vance County, absentee ballots may be returned by mail from the residence, mailed at a post office, brought in-person to the BOE office or delivered in-person to one of the designated early voting sites during one-stop voting.
Those that initiate the absentee ballot request process and then decide to vote in-person must contact their local BOE to cancel the mail-in process before attempting to vote in-person.
“Once the ballot request has been made, the process has begun for you to be identified as an absentee mail-in voter,” said Nicholson. “If you show up in-person, the system will indicate whether you requested a ballot and the status of that ballot. You cannot show up and try to vote twice.”
Requests for absentee ballots that are sent from the BOE must be initiated by the voter; the BOE will not send absentee ballots without a request.
Nicholson urged caution against using the absentee ballots sent by third parties, which may or may not be legitimate. “I’m encouraging our voters to disregard those notices because they are third-party, and the State BOE is not responsible for those ballots. If you have an envelope and the return address is not going to your local BOE office, I would not use it.”
In the same vein, Nicholson urged caution if registering during voter registration drives held by third parties. “If the organization sponsoring the event is not well-known or well-established, then I would second guess them. A lot of these events are legitimate and they do what they are supposed to do; however, my advice is to always be on the side of caution.”
Additional Notes
Voters with special needs in Vance County may contact the BOE and speak to Director Faye Gill. The BOE has a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT) available to help those with special needs register to vote, receive voting materials and fill out ballots.
COVID safety precautions will be taken at voting sites including sanitizing voting booths after each use and supplying one-time use pens. Curbside voting is also an option for senior citizens and the immunocompromised.
The Vance County Board of Elections is located at 300 S. Garnett Street in Henderson, NC. With questions or for additional information, please call the BOE at (252) 492-3730.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.)
100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Archie Taylor, Jr., the incumbent for the District 2 seat of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Taylor, a Democrat, is running against challenger Michael Fisher for the seat. Filing after the primary election, Fisher, a Democrat, said in an earlier interview with WIZS that he was required to run as an unaffiliated candidate and petition for voter signatures in order to add his name to the November 2020 General Election.
A retired military officer and businessman, Taylor was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2012. He served as Chairman of the Board in 2015 and 2019 and currently serves on the Vance County Public Safety Committee.
Taylor also serves on the Board of Directors for the Vance County Department of Social Services, Maria Parham Health, McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center, Vance County Public Schools Foundation and Occoneechee Council: Boy Scouts of America.
Below is a portion of Taylor’s responses to questions asked during the Town Talk interview:
Archie Taylor, Jr., the incumbent for the District 2 seat of the Vance County Board of Commissioners. (Photo courtesy County of Vance)
Q: What does a vote for Archie Taylor mean for the future of the Vance County Fire Department, fire districts and Vance County Rescue Squad?
A: I am a strong proponent of the Vance County Fire Department; they have served the county well for over 60 years.
Now we have this element inside of the Rescue Squad – along with some others in our community- who would disband the Vance County Fire Department. Instead of eight volunteer fire departments, there would be nine because they would get rid of the Vance County Fire Department, distribute its employees and have the Rescue Squad take over firefighting in the county. I think that is absolutely a huge mistake for our county.
Mine has been the primary voice, largest voice, loudest voice of making sure we keep our Vance County Fire Department as is and build a model around something else. That’s one of the biggest differences between me and my opponent.
A vote for me is a vote to keep the Vance County Fire Department intact.
Q: How does your platform address areas of growth and concern in the community?
A: When citizens in District 2 call on me for assistance, I jump right on it and do my best to help them, whether its finding grant money to have water lines installed or cleanup of dilapidated houses in the area.
I was able to get Carver School a multi-purpose room when it was the only school in the county that didn’t have one. I was also able to help Middleburg Steakhouse reopen and am proud of the Board’s involvement in the opening of the new Vance County Animal Shelter.
Right now, I’m working on helping bring broadband internet access to our county. We [the Board of Commissioners] looked at several options and explored the most cost-effective means. We found Open Broadband to be the best solution for us. It not only provides the installation of internet throughout our county but is also good for our citizens in terms of what they’ll have to pay.
Q: What is your stance as far as using taxpayer money to fund areas such as the Vance County Rescue Squad and the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center?
A: I question why Vance County pays over $100,000 for rescue work. As pointed out in The Daily Dispatch recently, Granville County has $20,000; Franklin has $40,000; Warren has zero dollars allocated to rescue, and yet Vance County has over $102,000. So, I’ve questioned that for six months or so, and I guess we will come to some resolution on that.
McGregor Hall is a very important part of our county’s economic development; it brings our community over $2 million in revenue every year based on a study done by NC State University. We are very fortunate to have a facility of its type.
McGregor Hall is one of the only performing arts centers of its kind in the state that gets no public money at this time. I think it’s important that we figure out some way to help McGregor Hall because it provides a big economic impact to our community, and we want big economic impacts.
To hear the interview in its entirety, including additional questions and responses, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal air time/coverage on WIZS.)
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
On today’s episode of WIZS’ Town Talk, originally aired September 15, John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS and primary Town Talk host, was on the receiving end of questions posed by new guest host Brandon Boyd.
Many in the community may recognize Boyd from Boyd Chevrolet Buick GMC.
Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Boyd asked Rose how the vision for WIZS, which has been on the air continuously since May 1, 1955, has changed over the decades. Rose replied he believes the station’s vision has remained mostly unchanged.
Purchased by Rose Farm & Rentals on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III, Rose said his father’s vision for the station has always been to support and promote the local community.
“My dad’s vision for the radio station at that time, and for most of his tenure before passing away in 2007, was ‘of Henderson, by Henderson and for Henderson,’ with a webpage, social media and a little better throw on FM towards Oxford added,” said Rose.
Since first flipping the switch to enter the airwaves in 1955, WIZS has broadcast on 1450AM. At exactly noon on August 17, 2018, WIZS flipped the switch again to add 100.1 FM as a live simulcast.
With FM added, Rose said another of his father’s visions for the station was realized. “Getting FM was a several years-long process,” explained Rose. “It was something my father always wanted to do, but there was never quite the right time, quite the right apparatus, quite the right opportunity or quite the right amount of money to make it happen.”
When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened a filing window for smaller stations to join the FM airwaves, Rose said the timing was right for the station to apply for a licensed FM translator, a “full-fledged FM station.”
With its ability to reach a younger audience more familiar with the FM format, the simulcast helps ensure a viable future for WIZS as a provider of local news, sports, music, talk and entertainment.
“We want to be a community radio station,” Rose said. “We want to engage young people in what’s going on in the community.”
When Boyd, who stated “every day, people in this area trust you for the news,” asked Rose to describe what the community’s respect means to him, Rose replied he doesn’t think he has earned it just yet.
“I don’t think I can earn that,” he elaborated. “I think that I can only strive to earn it. People like the late John D. Rose, III, my dad, and also Bob Harrison that worked at WHNC in our community, have set the bar extremely high in what local community radio is able to do from the standpoint of offering local news.”
In further discussing WIZS’ history, Boyd and Rose fondly remembered the “unique individuals” that have made WIZS both entertaining and informative over the years.
“There is a cast of characters that goes down in history – some in infamy – but there were some great, great people,” said Rose. “A radio station is not better than its people, and all radio stations and organizations are bigger than one person.”
In summing up his first guest host appearance, Boyd said, “Not only was it an honor to host an interview with John Charles on Town Talk; it was a true privilege. The Rose family and WIZS are assets to the Henderson and the Tri-County area and have been a part of all of our lives for many years now.”
“As for people that are new to this area,” Boyd continued, “I believe it is a story that needs to be shared and deserves to be told as to how this radio station has not just survived but has grown to become Henderson’s voice. John Rose was truly an ambassador for this area and his son John Charles is proudly leading the effort today. How fortunate we are to have WIZS 1450AM and now 100.1 FM: Henderson’s Trusted Community Voice.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
