Franklin County Commissioners Appoint John Preston As Tax Administrator

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— information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III

 

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners has appointed John Preston to be the county’s tax administrator.

This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement in July 2024 of Marian Cascone, who resigned in July from that position, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.

Preston comes from Warren County where he has served as tax administrator for the past five years. Prior to his time in Warren County, he was a home inspector in Maryland.

“I am looking forward to coming to Franklin County as the new tax administrator,” Preston said.

The tax administrator is one of four positions appointed by the board of commissioners. The other positions are county manager, county attorney and clerk to the board.

“The Tax Department is responsible for the fair and equitable assessment of all personal and real property within the county and generates the funding through tax dollars for county operations, new projects to attract new businesses and growth within the county to benefit all Franklin County residents.”

Preston also served as the appraiser for Warren County from 2015-2017 when he left to become a property tax valuation specialist with the North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Local Government Division. He then returned to Warren County as the assistant tax administrator in 2019 prior to being appointed as tax administrator.

WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 11-19-24 Noon

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For additional coverage about Frank Sossamon asking for a recount, please also review our other web post about this story linked here – TownTalk: Sossamon Calls For Recount – WIZS

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TownTalk: Sossamon Calls For Recount

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Vance and Granville counties will conduct a recount in the too-close-to-call contest for House District 32, which has Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn leading Republican incumbent Frank Sossamon by 233 votes.

Because that margin is less than 1 percent of the voting totals – .53 percent, to be precise – the challenger (in this case, Sossamon) was entitled to ask for a recount by 12 noon today. Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles told WIZS News Tuesday that she received a notification of the recount from Raleigh shortly before 11:30 a.m.

Sossamon spoke with WIZS News this morning as he was waiting for the General Assembly to convene and confirmed that he would be seeking a recount.

“It hasn’t been filed, but it will be filed before 12,” Sossamon said by phone shortly before 11 a.m. He said he’d waited until now to let the process play out, which included the Nov. 15 canvass and certifying and counting provisional and absentee ballots.

“A lot of elections are cut-and-dry,” he said. “Close elections are different…and there are options that candidates have,” including filing protests if there are “anomalies,” and filing a lawsuit.

Rawles said Vance County elections officials will begin the recount at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 for two races – the District 32 contest and a statewide recount for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court between sitting Justice Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.

Rawles expects the recounts to take the majority of the day to complete, if not longer.

WIZS News reached out to Granville County Board of Elections Director Tonya Burnette Tuesday afternoon to find out when the recount would begin in that county and we will update the story if that information becomes available.

In a concise letter sent via email to N.C. State Board of Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell, Sossamon requested the recount.

It reads:

Executive Director Brinson Bell,

As a candidate for North Carolina House District 32 in the 2024 General Election, I her3eby submit my written demand for a mandatory recount pursuant to the N.C. Gen. Stat. 163-182.7(c) and 163-182.4(b)(3). Please confirm receipt of this timely written demand at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Frank Sossamon

Sossamon expressed frustration when it came to finding out what his options were regarding a recount and said he felt voters weren’t adequately inform about redrawn district lines that removed a portion of Vance County from District 32.

Nobody said “Mr. Sossamon, you can call for a recount,” Sossamon said. “I had to find that out for myself – I find that quite alarming.”

Sossamon also said he was concerned to learn that voters in Vance County showed up to vote and noticed that the District 32 race wasn’t on their ballot.

“They were thinking they could vote for me, but I wasn’t on their ballot,” he said, adding that “people who are already skeptical of the voting system are getting even more skeptical.”

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Cohn said he was pleased with the overall process but acknowledged that the campaign was “long and expensive, and, at times, a rather dirty campaign. I don’t think anybody is happy about any of that.”

(This text and story developed more after the embedded audio below.)

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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So far, Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters has resisted the urge to get the library festooned in red and green for that big December holiday – she said she wants Thanksgiving and Native Peoples Month to have their moments to shine, too.

In fact, next Tuesday afternoon’s activity will feature a story celebrating Native Peoples Month. Participants will surely enjoy the associated craft activity – making “corn” using pipe cleaners and beads.

Once Thanksgiving has come and gone, the library will surely shift its attention to December when thoughts turn to snowflakes and gingerbread men and Christmas decorations.

Peters invites folks of all ages to come out on the first official day of winter to the library’s “Winter Celebration” on Saturday, Dec. 21. Activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include make-and-take crafts for all ages, from kiddos and teens to adults.

And bring your photo-taking device to snap some family selfies in front of a beautiful holiday backdrop, she said.

There are plenty of activities before Dec. 21 to enjoy, too, Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

For starters, there’s Pajama Story Time on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Then on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., bring the family to watch the film Polar Express while sipping hot chocolate and nibbling sweet treats.

Youngsters will enjoy hunting for hidden gingerbread people cookies around the library. No, they’re not edible – these are made of felt – but Peters said the children enjoyed looking for them hidden throughout the library.

Sometimes, you’ll find Peters or other library staff out in the community, too.

Visit the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on Saturday, Dec. 7 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a special Market Story Time, which may include decorating some gingerbread cookies that ARE edible, Peters said.

And then later that afternoon, the library will have a float commemorating its 100 year-anniversary in the Henderson Christmas Parade, which begins at 3 p.m.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn about all the programs and services the library offers.

 

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Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Agriculture Is Changing

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Qualified Warren Residents Can Apply For Help With Winter Heating Costs

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The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time annual vendor payment to help eligible families pay for their heating expense.

The good news is, if you received a LIEAP payment last year, there’s no need to re-apply; an automatic payment will be generated to that same account this fiscal year, according to information from Warren County Department of Social Services.

The state mails notices in November to each family from the 2023-2024 pre-populated application information, complete with instructions on how to report any household changes. Recipients can contact or return the notice with changes to their local DSS office within 10 business days. If the recipient does not contact or report any changes to DSS, the information from the 2023-2024 LIEAP application will be used to approve the household for 2024-2025 benefits. The recipient will be informed that an automated LIEAP payment was made.

Households not included in the target population will be able to apply following regular LIEAP application policy. Regular application policy is as follows:

·      Application period begins Dec. 1 for households with a disabled person who receives services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services. Households with individuals age 60 or older are potentially eligible during the month of December or until funds are exhausted.

·      Applications from the general public will be taken from Jan. 1 through March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

This program is being administered by:

Warren County Department of Social Services

307 N. Main Street

Warrenton, NC 27589

252.257.5000

Please bring the following information to determine eligibility:

1.         Photo Identification

2.         Mail or document showing current address (rental agreement, utility bill, etc.)

3.         Information about your household’s income. If anyone works, bring wage stubs for the month prior to the month you visit the agency. Bring letter from Social                Security Administration to confirm benefits or a statement that shows direct deposit.

4.         Recent statement for savings or checking accounts.

5.         Name, date of birth & social security card or numbers for each household member.

6.          A bill from your primary source of heat (used the MOST, to heat your home). Households that heat with wood/kerosene, will not have a bill to submit.

 

Heating source bill-If the bill is not in applicant’s name, applicant must provide a written statement from the person whose name the bill is in (must be 18 & older), stating that applicant is responsible for payment of the heating expense.

Applicants who are not physically able to come to the agency to apply may provide a trusted individual (representative) with a written statement authorizing them to apply for LIEAP on their behalf; must include a contact number. Please bring all information listed above in 1-6.

SportsTalk: 2024 Season Recap For Vance County Football

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The Vance County High School Vipers didn’t go as deep into the playoffs as they had hoped, but a third year with nine wins or more is evidence that Coach Aaron Elliott is not just putting together a team – he’s building a program.

The 17-seed Vipers traveled to 16-seed Western Alamance Friday night for the first round of 3A state playoffs, but came up short and lost 36-31.

Doc Ayscue and WIZS’s Scout Hughes agreed that it was one of those back-and-forth games and whichever team had the ball last would come away with the W. “They were right there ‘til the end,” Ayscue said. “It was one of the best high school games I’ve seen.” When the winning score is made with 12 seconds left, you know it’s a tight game, he said on Monday’s SportsTalk.

Vipers Senior Javion Vines-holder made the highlight reel when he took a kickoff return 95 yards for a TD.

Western Alamance staff apparently had done their homework and were trying to keep the ball out of Vines-holder’s hands. But after the kicker had put the ball on the tee and turned his back to get ready for the kickoff, Vines-holder and teammate Tyler Wheeler switched places, so the ball went to Vines-holder and he took off for the end zone.

Ayscue said Western Alamance’s #5, James Newton, was the best player the Vipers faced all season. Newton rushed for 151 yards and scored five touchdowns Friday night.

“It’s hard to tell on film how quick he is, how fast he is – he had that quick acceleration,” Ayscue said.

For the season, three Vipers rushed for more than 500 yards. Senior Jontavious Nile ran for 1,237 yards and had 69 rushing yards against Western Alamance.

Then there’s Antoine Doyle, Jr, who racked up more than 500 yards in receptions.

“He’s a terrific athlete – offense and defense,” Ayscue said. When the play was “jet down the field and we’re going to throw it as far as we can,” it was Doyle’s number that was usually called.

But it was Vines-holder who, going into the game Friday, was tied for first place among all public high schools in the state for most interceptions. He had eight interceptions – but not in his role as quarterback – these interceptions are the kind that coaches like to see their defense make.

Ayscue said last season Coach Elliott regarded Vines-holder as possibly the best defensive back on the team. Then he took over as quarterback this season, Ayscue said, and became a great contributor on offense, too.

“He did it on both sides of the ball,” Ayscue said. Staff would “sneak him in (on defense) on obvious pass situations,” he added. “He did a great job – not just intercepting balls…he would chase (opponents) down and tackle them before they got too much” yardage.

Viper Senior Taeshawn Alston, who committed to play football at the University of South Carolina back in June, is the lone Viper whose season is extended by one game – Alston will represent Vance County and North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. That game takes place in Spartanburg, SC on Dec. 21. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

SportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th 

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The Local Skinny! N.C. House District 32 Contest

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Incumbent N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon has until noon tomorrow – Tuesday, Nov. 19 – to put the wheels in motion to call for a recount in the contest to retain his District 32 seat.

Both Vance and Granville’s boards of elections completed the canvass on Friday, Nov. 15 to certify results of the Nov. 5 general election, including the District 32 race, in which challenger Bryan Cohn holds a 233-vote lead over the incumbent Sossamon.

The N.C. State Board of Elections website lists vote totals as 21,213 for Cohn, a Democrat, and 20,980 for the Republican Sossamon. Cohn won handily in Vance County, taking 60.55 percent of the vote to Sossamon’s 37.26 percent; Sossamon won among Granville County voters by a 52.67 percent to 44.53 percent margin.

State law states that a recount can occur in non-statewide contests where the margin of victory is 1 percent or less of total votes cast. The 233-vote margin is .53 of 1 percent of the total vote.

“In contests under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections (including General Assembly seats in which the district lies in more than one county), the recount demand must be in writing and received by the State Board of Elections no later than noon on Tuesday, Nov. 19,” according to the state board of elections website.

There has been no indication about whether Sossamon will make a recount request.

The District 32 race is one of two key contests yet to be decided – the other is District 25 in Nash County – which will determine whether Republican keep their supermajority in the N.C. House.

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Granville County Library System

Granville Library System Gets $10,000 From Anonymous Benefactor

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– information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Library System recently received a $10,000 donation to support children’s programming.

The donor, who wants to remain anonymous, designated the gift for projects aimed at improving children’s reading abilities in creative ways with a  primary focus on the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, but with potential to impact other library branches  across the county, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The money will be used for projects that the library system otherwise could not afford, including innovative reading programs, literacy support and educational initiatives that inspire young readers.

“We are incredibly fortunate to receive this support,” said Thornton Branch Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson. “This donation will allow us to create impactful programs that foster a love of reading and learning among children. We look forward to using these funds to expand the library’s community reach and resources in meaningful ways.”

The Granville County Library System will begin planning and implementing new initiatives with these funds by helping children develop stronger reading skills and a lasting connection to literacy. Further updates on the use of this donation will be shared with the community at a later date.

Visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ to learn more about the programs and services the library system offers.