A group of concerned citizens has been gaining momentum and voicing their disapproval of the process used by city and county elected officials to approve the 2024-25 budget, including the jump in property tax bills brought on by the recently completed revaluation.
During the public comment period at recent council and commissioners’ meetings, representatives of the citizens’ group have called for both bodies to allow taxpayers to pay the amount of their 2023 taxes without penalty for failure to pay the 2024 amount.
Concerned Citizens of Vance County had about 300 people at their Sept. 17 meeting; the Oct. 17 meeting attracted about 75 people, according to organizers.
Several individuals associated with the group have appeared before the Henderson City Council and the Vance County Board of Commissioners. Most recently, Caroline Burnette and Melissa Lemmond, both Henderson residents, were critical of the way that the city and county turned their backs on revenue-neutral budgets in favor of a tax rate increase. County commissioners approved a 10-cent increase; the City Council voted for a 20-cent increase. Burnette is a N.C. District Court judge; Lemmond practices law in Henderson.
In comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said, “I’m back here again about the tax issue because I think this city council has done a real disservice to the citizens of Henderson…I don’t think you thought about how it was going to affect people,” she said.
In comments to the county commissioners on Oct. 7, Burnette asserted that commissioners violated the Public Meetings Law by not having written minutes of June budget work sessions.
“The board gave consensus to bring back a balanced budget with a 10-cent tax increase,” Burnette said. “That was transacting business – real or apparent,” she said, quoting a portion of the law in question. Minutes are supposed to be voted on or adopted by a majority of the board, she added.
“So, the June 24 (budget) approval could be found null and void by a Superior Court judge,” Burnette said, for what she said was the commissioners’ failure to comply with the law. “An injunction could also be issued so that this will never happen again and you could also be ordered personally to pay attorneys’ fees,” she continued.
“Commissioners, it’s time to do the right thing. I implore you to let the citizens of Vance County pay the taxes they paid in 2023 (and) to direct the tax administrator to take no action on delinquent taxes if the 2023 amount has been paid.”
In her comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said the 20-cent city tax increase, along with the 10-cent county increase, will have dire consequences.
“Y’all are going to cause foreclosures… cause people to lose their homes, cause renters to be forced out,” she said. She was one of a handful of citizens who spoke to voice their concern for the way the budget process was handled.
“When you passed the 65 cents, there was no discussion. So either you talked about it ahead of time and everybody agreed, and it wasn’t in a meeting, or you just didn’t care enough and said ‘oh yeah, we’ll make it 65 cents,’” Lemmond said.
She made similar remarks to commissioners on Sept. 3 on the budget approval and tax rate increase. “It had to have been discussed somewhere, sometime for it to have passed that quickly,” she said.
“I understand the need for more money, we all need more money,” Lemmond said. “But that was a really big tax hike and I don’t’ think the county thought through what it was going to do to a lot of these people…it shouldn’t have been that big of an increase.”
Concerned Citizens for Vance County meets at the local headquarters of the Republican Party, located at 605 S. Garnett St. every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
The group’s email address is concernedforvance@gmail.com and a Facebook page is being worked on as of this date.
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KVA Marks 50 Years Of Accreditation With Latest External Review
/by WIZS StaffKerr-Vance Academy Head of School Matthew McLaughlin has announced that the school has achieved 50 years of accreditation from Cognia, a nonprofit improvement organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
“It is an honor and a privilege to stand with Kerr-Vance Academy today as we reach this milestone,” McLaughlin stated in a letter to KVA parents. “Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides a nationally recognized mark of quality and sustained excellence for our school. Being able to maintain this distinction for 50 years demonstrates our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”
KVA Board of Trustees President Robert Bowen – who also is a KVA alumnus and a KVA parent – reflected on a half-century of accreditation.
“We are reminded of the dedication and commitment that have brought us here. This achievement reflects our unwavering focus on providing an exceptional education for our students, ensuring that they are prepared to thrive in the world. On behalf of the KVA Board of Trustees, we are proud of the hard work of our educators, students and the community, and we look forward to continuing this legacy of excellence for many years to come.”
Throughout its more than 125 years of service, Cognia has recognized schools across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource reallocation, and effective leadership. To receive Cognia Accreditation, a school must submit to an external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission is a recognition that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring that all students can flourish in engaging and equitable school environments. Kerr-Vance Academy has continually met high standards and made progress on key indicators that impact student learning. Maintaining their accredited status for half of a century can only be achieved with a steadfast commitment to high quality education and continuous improvement.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at https://www.cognia.org/.
Visit https://www.kerrvance.com/ to learn more.
TownTalk: The Evolution of 4-H
/by WIZS StaffMost anybody who has participated in 4-H at one time or another can probably remember what the four H’s stand for.
If you came up with Head, Heart, Hands, Health, give yourself a pat on the back.
And although its roots are based in agriculture-related programs, today’s 4-H clubs are pivoting to embrace the growing fields of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.
Micah Sharpe is Vance County’s Extension agent for 4-H Youth Development. Sharpe said on Tuesday’s TownTalk segment that 4-H clubs tend to reflect the counties in which they operate.
“We still have farming, poultry,” Sharpe said, but 4-H’ers are also “coding robots, flying drones (and) using iPads to create digital marketing.”
4-H is for young people between 5 and 18, and Sharpe said programs and activities can look different, depending on the age group.
The 4-H Clover Buds, as the 5- to 7-year-old group is called, tend to get more hands-on, fun activities, Sharpe said. They’re eager to learn but their attention span is short.
Tweens and teens can sit still a bit longer, so they can handle discussions about topics including civic engagement and the importance of voting, for example.
Sheronika Sharp is the STEM specialist at Vance County Cooperative Extension, and Sharpe said he values their collaboration to create programs, trainings and more.
Sharpe said he has programs that can be taught in school settings, but it can be challenging to gain inroads in that program delivery method.
He said he likes to talk about his 4-H programs and curricula with school counselors, Career and Technical Education teachers, and principals; he trains teachers to carry out the programs as after-school activities, so even if he cannot be there, instructors will know what to do.
Sharpe did not grow up with 4-H – in fact, his first exposure to the program was last year.
But it hasn’t taken long for him to realize the benefits 4-H offers young people.
He tells them, “You’ve got to do what’s right for yourself,” but he follows up with “It’s cool to be knowledgeable.”
Whether they’re learning the basics of cooking through the Dinah Gore challenge or learning to fly drones, 4-H brings together head, heart, hands and health to support young people along their journey to adulthood.
To learn more, contact Sharpe at 252.438.8188, mosharpe@ncsu.edu or even just drop by the office at 305 Young St.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 10-22-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Cooperative Extension With Micah Sharpe: 4H Events Coming Up
/by WIZS StaffCooperative Extension
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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TownTalk: Concerned Citizens Group Vocal On Tax Rate, Budget Process
/by WIZS StaffA group of concerned citizens has been gaining momentum and voicing their disapproval of the process used by city and county elected officials to approve the 2024-25 budget, including the jump in property tax bills brought on by the recently completed revaluation.
During the public comment period at recent council and commissioners’ meetings, representatives of the citizens’ group have called for both bodies to allow taxpayers to pay the amount of their 2023 taxes without penalty for failure to pay the 2024 amount.
Concerned Citizens of Vance County had about 300 people at their Sept. 17 meeting; the Oct. 17 meeting attracted about 75 people, according to organizers.
Several individuals associated with the group have appeared before the Henderson City Council and the Vance County Board of Commissioners. Most recently, Caroline Burnette and Melissa Lemmond, both Henderson residents, were critical of the way that the city and county turned their backs on revenue-neutral budgets in favor of a tax rate increase. County commissioners approved a 10-cent increase; the City Council voted for a 20-cent increase. Burnette is a N.C. District Court judge; Lemmond practices law in Henderson.
In comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said, “I’m back here again about the tax issue because I think this city council has done a real disservice to the citizens of Henderson…I don’t think you thought about how it was going to affect people,” she said.
In comments to the county commissioners on Oct. 7, Burnette asserted that commissioners violated the Public Meetings Law by not having written minutes of June budget work sessions.
“The board gave consensus to bring back a balanced budget with a 10-cent tax increase,” Burnette said. “That was transacting business – real or apparent,” she said, quoting a portion of the law in question. Minutes are supposed to be voted on or adopted by a majority of the board, she added.
“So, the June 24 (budget) approval could be found null and void by a Superior Court judge,” Burnette said, for what she said was the commissioners’ failure to comply with the law. “An injunction could also be issued so that this will never happen again and you could also be ordered personally to pay attorneys’ fees,” she continued.
“Commissioners, it’s time to do the right thing. I implore you to let the citizens of Vance County pay the taxes they paid in 2023 (and) to direct the tax administrator to take no action on delinquent taxes if the 2023 amount has been paid.”
In her comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said the 20-cent city tax increase, along with the 10-cent county increase, will have dire consequences.
“Y’all are going to cause foreclosures… cause people to lose their homes, cause renters to be forced out,” she said. She was one of a handful of citizens who spoke to voice their concern for the way the budget process was handled.
“When you passed the 65 cents, there was no discussion. So either you talked about it ahead of time and everybody agreed, and it wasn’t in a meeting, or you just didn’t care enough and said ‘oh yeah, we’ll make it 65 cents,’” Lemmond said.
She made similar remarks to commissioners on Sept. 3 on the budget approval and tax rate increase. “It had to have been discussed somewhere, sometime for it to have passed that quickly,” she said.
“I understand the need for more money, we all need more money,” Lemmond said. “But that was a really big tax hike and I don’t’ think the county thought through what it was going to do to a lot of these people…it shouldn’t have been that big of an increase.”
Concerned Citizens for Vance County meets at the local headquarters of the Republican Party, located at 605 S. Garnett St. every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
The group’s email address is concernedforvance@gmail.com and a Facebook page is being worked on as of this date.
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Sheriff: Vance County Man Arrested On Drug, Weapons Charges
/by WIZS StaffPress release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
On October 10, 2024 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Unit, with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at 85 Kristie Lane, located west of Townsville. The investigation was in response to numerous citizen complaints of narcotics violations from this location. During the search, investigators located methamphetamine, cocaine and numerous firearms. Several of the firearms were reported stolen out of Granville County.
As a result of the investigation, Edward Jones of Kristie Lane was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Cocaine; Maintaining a Dwelling to Keep and Sell Controlled Substances; two counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and eight counts of Possession of a Firearm by Felon. Jones was released on a $330,000 secured bond.
Maria Parham Health To Hold Annual ‘Trunk Or Treat’ Oct. 28
/by WIZS StaffMaria Parham Health will host its 4th annual drive-thru Trunk or Treat event on Monday, Oct. 28, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., providing a safe and festive way for families to celebrate Halloween.
The drive-thru Trunk or Treat allows children to remain in their cars as they enjoy the sights and sounds of Halloween, said Donna Young, MPH public information officer.
Costumed volunteers will pass out candy through open car windows to create a unique and safe trick-or-treating experience. “We started our Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat in October of 2021, in an effort to give children a safe way to trick or treat during the COVID outbreak. The community really enjoyed doing it this way, so it stuck,” Young explained.
Families from the Henderson and Vance County communities are encouraged to bring their little ghosts and goblins for an evening filled with elaborately decorated trunks, festive costumes, and, of course, plenty of candy!
Details about the drive-thru route will be announced about a week before the event, so be sure to keep an eye on the MPH Facebook page for the latest updates.
Granville Library Gets $15K Grant To Preserve Oral Histories Of Local African American Educators
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville County Library System was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from the Council of Library and Information Resources to digitize and make available a trove of recorded interviews of African American educators by local businessman and historian James Eddie McCoy.
McCoy recorded more than 240 hours of conversations with the Granville County educators between 1981 and 2016 which “explore the challenges and joys of teaching during the decades of school segregation and the coming of integrated public schools,” according to a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
The grant funds will enable the library system to digitize and preserve McCoy’s interviews and circulate them to all users as early as 2025. Copies of the recordings will be deposited at N.C. Central University for students and researchers to access. The digitized content will be available nationally and globally through the library’s partnerships with DigitalNC and the Digital Public Library of America.
McCoy’s oral histories capture the story of Granville County’s African American educators, who, like their counterparts in other areas, did much more than teach reading, writing and arithmetic. They shared their history and worked to foster pride and self-esteem, stimulate civic awareness and encourage political engagement.
The preservation project began in September and runs through August 2025. Completed digitized materials will be turned over to the Granville County Library System as part of the 2025 celebration of Juneteenth, scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Richard H. Thornton Library.
As part of the celebration, two noted authors and scholars of the period are scheduled to participate. Dr. Jarvis Givens of Harvard University, author of “Fugitive Pedagogy” (Harvard University Press, 2021) and Dr. Leslie Fenwick of Howard University, author of “Jim Crow’s Pink-Slip” (Harvard Education Press, 2022) will be on hand and their books will be available for purchase.
Visit https://granville.lib.nc.us to learn more about the library’s branches, services and programs.
Local Cattle Owners Have Oct. 30 Referendum Vote
/by Laura GabelOn Oct. 30, local cattle producers are asked to vote on a referendum to continue the North Carolina Cattle Industry Assessment to fund beef promotion in the state.
The national Beef Checkoff program collects $1 per head of cattle sold in the state, and 50 cents stays in North Carolina, explained Matthew Place, N.C. Cooperative Extension livestock agent in Warren County.
Those funds, however, can be used only within specific guidelines that involve promotion of beef.
The vote next week will be whether to continue the additional $1 assessment per head sold to support youth programs, as well as enhance the image of cattle production, research and education about N.C. cattle and beef production.
Any cattle owner over 18 can vote in the referendum. Stop by the
Warren County Cooperative Extension Office at 158 Rafters Ln., Warrenton, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Contact Matthew Place at 919.495.2230 or matthew_place@ncsu.edu to learn more.
SportsTalk: Recap Of The Weekend
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap the weekend that was in the great sport of American Football. From High School, to College Ball, to the Pros. Right here on SportsTalk.
The next time Vance County will take the field is when they host Carrboro for their Pink Game to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness on Week 10 of the 2024 season on Friday, October 25th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff thereafter at 7:00 p.m.
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