Independence Day falls on a Friday this year, which give folks a chance to take part in more festivities over the long Fourth of July weekend.
Take the fireworks show at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park, for example, sponsored by Vance County Tourism.
The annual event will take place on Saturday, July 5 this year, and Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson are working like a well-oiled machine to make sure there’s plenty of food and fun for the whole community.
“The fireworks are going to be beautiful,” Hester said, adding that the pyrotechnics team creating the show does a “fabulous job” that will surely wow the audience.
The fun begins at 4 p.m., and there will be a wide variety of food vendors, as well as music provided again this year by DJ Jay.
“As always, DJ J has it down to a science,” Hester said. He plays patriotic music during the countdown to the fireworks show, which helps get the crowd really involved, she said.
It does take place in early July, so in addition to the fireworks and the fun, friendship and fellowship that will be served up, Hester adds one word to the description: HOT.
While there will be plenty to do during the afternoon and into the evening, the star of the show is the fireworks, so the tourism duo makes sure that all the permits are secured and helping agencies are on board with their role in making sure all goes according to plan.
“It takes roughly 16 different organizations to pull off this 20-minute affair each year,” Dickerson said. “We are indebted to these organizations. Without them, we could not do it.” Among the assisting agencies are the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, Vance County Rescue Squad, Fire Department, EMS and the county commissioners.
In addition, permits are needed from the N.C. State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And oddly enough, Dickerson said they have to seek approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has an auxiliary at the lake that assists the rescue squad to maintain safety along the perimeter of the shoot site.
Hester offered a shout-out to Kerr Lake Parks Superintendent Bill Stanley and his team. “Bill Stanley and his crew are just top of the line,” she said.
The shoot site usually takes place along the shoreline at Water’s Edge subdivision, Dickerson noted, but if the lake level remains as high as it is now (301.6 feet), the Plan B is to move across the lake near Shelter 3, which is more elevated.
“Anything over 301.6 and our shoot area is under water,” Dickerson said. The lake level may come down some between now and then, “but we’ve still got a backup, so we’re good,” he explained.
Here’s a quick rundown on some of the food and beverage options that are scheduled to be on site for the event:
- Bun on the Run – burgers and hotdogs
- King’s Southern Style Cooking – shrimp, fish, pork chops, fries, hush puppies
- RJ’s Grill – Cheese steaks, chopped pork, chicken wings and fish
- Kim Hudson’s loaded baked potatoes, nachos, lemonade and cold drinks
- Frostbites – a variety of ice treat and ice cream to help keep you cool
- DP and C – carnival treats like candy apples, funnel cakes and deep fried candy bars.
- Kernel Craze – gourmet popcorn in all different flavors
- De Tocho Morocho – offering Hispanic-inspired foods and drinks
The event is free, but there is a $10 gate fee to enter the park. And remember, alcohol is not permitted at any state park.
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TownTalk: Fourth of July Fireworks Coming to Kerr Lake
/by WIZS StaffIndependence Day falls on a Friday this year, which give folks a chance to take part in more festivities over the long Fourth of July weekend.
Take the fireworks show at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park, for example, sponsored by Vance County Tourism.
The annual event will take place on Saturday, July 5 this year, and Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson are working like a well-oiled machine to make sure there’s plenty of food and fun for the whole community.
“The fireworks are going to be beautiful,” Hester said, adding that the pyrotechnics team creating the show does a “fabulous job” that will surely wow the audience.
The fun begins at 4 p.m., and there will be a wide variety of food vendors, as well as music provided again this year by DJ Jay.
“As always, DJ J has it down to a science,” Hester said. He plays patriotic music during the countdown to the fireworks show, which helps get the crowd really involved, she said.
It does take place in early July, so in addition to the fireworks and the fun, friendship and fellowship that will be served up, Hester adds one word to the description: HOT.
While there will be plenty to do during the afternoon and into the evening, the star of the show is the fireworks, so the tourism duo makes sure that all the permits are secured and helping agencies are on board with their role in making sure all goes according to plan.
“It takes roughly 16 different organizations to pull off this 20-minute affair each year,” Dickerson said. “We are indebted to these organizations. Without them, we could not do it.” Among the assisting agencies are the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, Vance County Rescue Squad, Fire Department, EMS and the county commissioners.
In addition, permits are needed from the N.C. State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And oddly enough, Dickerson said they have to seek approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has an auxiliary at the lake that assists the rescue squad to maintain safety along the perimeter of the shoot site.
Hester offered a shout-out to Kerr Lake Parks Superintendent Bill Stanley and his team. “Bill Stanley and his crew are just top of the line,” she said.
The shoot site usually takes place along the shoreline at Water’s Edge subdivision, Dickerson noted, but if the lake level remains as high as it is now (301.6 feet), the Plan B is to move across the lake near Shelter 3, which is more elevated.
“Anything over 301.6 and our shoot area is under water,” Dickerson said. The lake level may come down some between now and then, “but we’ve still got a backup, so we’re good,” he explained.
Here’s a quick rundown on some of the food and beverage options that are scheduled to be on site for the event:
The event is free, but there is a $10 gate fee to enter the park. And remember, alcohol is not permitted at any state park.
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SportsTalk: Baseball Movies
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue talk about their all-time favorite baseball movies.
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Home and Garden Show
/by WIZS StaffOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 06-25-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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SportsTalk: NBA Draft Coming Up
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis talk about the NBA Draft coming up this week and also who they think the Charlotte Hornets should draft.
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TownTalk: Henderson Kiwanis Club
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson Kiwanis Club celebrated its 100th anniversary a couple of years ago – that’s quite an accomplishment for any group, and this local civic club is staying active as it begins its second century of service to the community.
Kiwanis Club President Danny Wilkerson said the local group has had several different long-standing fundraisers over the years – peanut sales and azalea sales, for example – but the club’s biggest fundraiser is the annual golf tournament.
This year’s tournament at Kerr Lake Country Club brought in a little more than $10,000, Wilkerson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.
“It’s the most money we’ve ever made from a tournament,” he said. “We were just so excited about it that day,” he added. The 17 teams on the course that day, as well as a variety of sponsors and enough volunteers to have everything run smoothly, added up to a record-breaking year.
But the club doesn’t hang on to the money for long. “We take it in and push it right back into the community,” Wilkerson said, “to help the needs of the kids.”
The Kiwanis motto is Serving the Children of the World, and that’s a motto that Kiwanians take to heart. “It’s all about the kids,” Wilkerson said.
The local club established two scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College in memory of Robert Turner and Bob Harrison, and Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett was a guest speaker at a recent club meeting.
The club provides gifts for needy children at Christmas and support youth organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Club, the Salvation Army, local library and more.
What the club needs, however, is more members. It’s down to fewer than a dozen, but Wilkerson said anyone is welcome to attend their meetings, held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Henderson Country Club.
He knows young parents have a lot of responsibilities raising their own families, which has affected membership in many organizations besides his own.
“We’ll feed you and hope you stick around to become a member of the club,” Wilkerson said. “We really want to attract some younger people to carry the torch forward.”
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 06-24-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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The Local Skinny! Children’s Theatre Camp Show ‘Once Upon A Mattress’ Opens Friday, June 27
/by WIZS StaffThe Children’s Theatre Camp is in its second week of its two-week program at McGregor Hall, and Mark Hopper said that 54 campers are in rehearsal now for the production of Once Upon A Mattress that will be performed this weekend.
There are three shows for the public – Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees that begin at 3 p.m. The shows last about an hour, the perfect length for families with young children.
“It’s a great family-oriented show,” Hopper said, “and the duration makes it great for any age.” There’s singing and choreography – with plenty of comedic shenanigans and campy jokes, he said, that are sure to keep the audience entertained.
Jo Ellen Nowell is directing the youngsters as they prepare to put on the show about a very loud princess named Winnifred and a Queen’s attempts to find a suitable wife for her son, the Prince.
This is the fifth year for the Children’s Theatre Camp, Hopper said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
Charlotte Davis is cast as Winnifred and Hopper called her work “phenomenal.”
“We’ve got some unbelievably talented kids on that stage – 54 of them,” he said.
There will be a daytime performance on Friday, June 27 especially for campers at the Henderson Family YMCA and Recreation and Parks, Hopper said.
Hopefully, more young people will see others their age on stage and realize that it’s something that could be an option for them one day as well.
“We wanted to make a camp that was affordable,” Hopper said, while offering access to high-quality material, staff and equipment that McGregor Hall performances are known for.
For $100, rising 3rd graders through rising 11th graders could participate for eight hours a day and then, “at the end of two weeks, produce a quality show,” Hopper said.
Purchase tickets here: https://mcgregorhall.ludus.com/index.php
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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Plants during a Heat Wave
/by WIZS StaffMichael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
This segment has a few key tips on how to keep your plants happy during a heat wave. Also shared are reminders for upcoming events.
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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SportsTalk: Champions are Crowned
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue talk about the two champions that were crowned over the weekend with the LSU Tigers winning the College World Series, and the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA Title. The guys also give an update on Minor League Baseball from over the weekend.
Friday MiLB Scores:
Saturday MiLB Scores:
Sunday MiLB Scores:
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