Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Mary Yount, director of the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC), were on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss recent growth and development in both the downtown area and in the city.
The City of Oxford, in partnership with the DOEDC, has been a North Carolina Main Street community since 1998; however, 2018 is the first year Oxford received National Main Street accreditation.
Accredited Main Street America programs display a commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization using a four-point approach including, according to Yount, “organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.”
Additional criteria for accreditation include the creation and successful execution of a plan of action and the requirement of a full-time person committed to the implementation.
“We have to have partners and volunteers to make this happen,” said Yount. “DOEDC is a non-profit that works very closely with the City in creating these partnerships with downtown businesses, Granville’s health systems, the County, libraries, museums, etc.”
Volunteer hours are also vital to the sustainability of the downtown area. “This past year, the Downtown Oxford Main Street program reported, as part of our statistics, that we had over 4,200 hours served by volunteers.”
By being a part of the Main Street program, the City of Oxford is eligible to receive additional funding by way of grants and loans and gains access to expert advice at the national, state and local level.
“For the cost of paying their mileage to come to Oxford to work with us [the Main Street program team] came on three separate occasions to facilitate a strategic planning session,” said Sergent. “Often times, it takes someone who really knows what they’re doing to help guide all the volunteers that have come to the table through the process. The NC Main Street program was critical in our coming together with a very solid plan.”
In addition to the funding available through the Main Street program and local government, Sergent credits the municipal service tax with helping the downtown area thrive.
“We have a municipal service tax district in downtown, agreed upon by the downtown vendors. That is an additional property tax that helps provide seed money to the DOEDC. That is part of what helps pay for the activities that go on in downtown,” said Sergent.
When questioned if the downtown area and Oxford as a whole are ready for expected population growth in the future, Sergent replied, “I think we’re tremendously ready!”
Sergent emphasized that the City’s recent acquisition of approximately $40 million in a combination of grants and low-interest loans puts Oxford well on its way to successfully implementing the $94 million infrastructure master plan. The $40 million is currently earmarked for water and wastewater infrastructure.
Sergent also said Oxford’s commitment to preparing for growth is evident in the recent decision by the City Commissioners to annex approximately 88 acres of land with an additional 44 acres to be discussed at their next monthly meeting in December.
“I think Oxford is really poised to handle the growth and development coming our way.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
Town Talk 11/15/18
/by LarryNews 11/15/18
/by LarryMcGregor Hall’s Popularity Continues to Grow, Study to Determine Economic Impact
/by John C. RoseWhile the next step in the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation’s quest to conduct an economic impact study of the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center on Henderson and the surrounding area is likely a formality, what is needed now is a contract with N.C. State University’s Department of Public Administration and its respective professors.
WIZS News conversations with Vance County Commission Chair Tommy Hester, who seems to have been the visible spearhead of this particular effort, reveal that the $17,500 to fund the study has been obtained by private, anonymous donation(s).
According to NC State representatives, the completion time for the study is estimated at four months, with the project to begin on January 7, 2019, and the final report to be submitted by May 6, 2019. Dr. Bruce McDonald and Tom White from NC State came to Henderson October 8, 2018, to discuss McGregor Hall and its impact, to learn more about the facility and to spur still more progression in the team of people, volunteers and the community at large that is supporting the facility.
The recent local production of “Beauty and the Beast” has resulted in additional widespread publicity for McGregor Hall. (Photo: WIZS)
The recent local production of “Beauty and the Beast” has resulted in additional widespread publicity for McGregor Hall for a number of reasons. The collective local and regional talent in the show and the sheer volume of people who attended the six public performances as well as additional school performances and side events exceeded 6,500 patrons.
Mark Hopper, Vice Chair of the Board for the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation and McGregor Hall, directed the play and directed the full orchestra as well. In a recent conversation with WIZS’ John C. Rose, Hopper said, “We are a community and economic organization first and foremost, and it’s exciting that citizens are starting to share our vision for what we can accomplish. Next spring, we have 11 weekends booked for regional and national dance competitions. That means that 700-900 people will arrive on Friday afternoon and stay through Sunday afternoon, with all of them eating in Vance County restaurants, lodging in Vance County motels, and putting Henderson on the map. It’s a very exciting time for McGregor Hall.”
Sergent, Yount Discuss Oxford’s Main Street Program, Downtown Growth
/by Kelly BondurantOxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Mary Yount, director of the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC), were on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss recent growth and development in both the downtown area and in the city.
The City of Oxford, in partnership with the DOEDC, has been a North Carolina Main Street community since 1998; however, 2018 is the first year Oxford received National Main Street accreditation.
Accredited Main Street America programs display a commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization using a four-point approach including, according to Yount, “organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.”
Additional criteria for accreditation include the creation and successful execution of a plan of action and the requirement of a full-time person committed to the implementation.
“We have to have partners and volunteers to make this happen,” said Yount. “DOEDC is a non-profit that works very closely with the City in creating these partnerships with downtown businesses, Granville’s health systems, the County, libraries, museums, etc.”
Volunteer hours are also vital to the sustainability of the downtown area. “This past year, the Downtown Oxford Main Street program reported, as part of our statistics, that we had over 4,200 hours served by volunteers.”
By being a part of the Main Street program, the City of Oxford is eligible to receive additional funding by way of grants and loans and gains access to expert advice at the national, state and local level.
“For the cost of paying their mileage to come to Oxford to work with us [the Main Street program team] came on three separate occasions to facilitate a strategic planning session,” said Sergent. “Often times, it takes someone who really knows what they’re doing to help guide all the volunteers that have come to the table through the process. The NC Main Street program was critical in our coming together with a very solid plan.”
In addition to the funding available through the Main Street program and local government, Sergent credits the municipal service tax with helping the downtown area thrive.
“We have a municipal service tax district in downtown, agreed upon by the downtown vendors. That is an additional property tax that helps provide seed money to the DOEDC. That is part of what helps pay for the activities that go on in downtown,” said Sergent.
When questioned if the downtown area and Oxford as a whole are ready for expected population growth in the future, Sergent replied, “I think we’re tremendously ready!”
Sergent emphasized that the City’s recent acquisition of approximately $40 million in a combination of grants and low-interest loans puts Oxford well on its way to successfully implementing the $94 million infrastructure master plan. The $40 million is currently earmarked for water and wastewater infrastructure.
Sergent also said Oxford’s commitment to preparing for growth is evident in the recent decision by the City Commissioners to annex approximately 88 acres of land with an additional 44 acres to be discussed at their next monthly meeting in December.
“I think Oxford is really poised to handle the growth and development coming our way.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
Vance County Middle & High School Win First Place in State Video Contest
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County High School and Vance County Middle School each won first-place trophies in the N.C. School Boards Association State Conference video contests for schools across the state during the organization’s annual event held at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, November 12 – 14.
Vance County High School theater arts students, under the direction of their teacher Samantha Campbell, accepted their award during the evening of November 13. They went on stage in the Guilford Ballroom and patiently waited for the top video selection to be announced. Hoke County High School received the third-place trophy and A.L. Brown High School finished second.
N.C. School Boards Association officials present the first-place trophy and $3,000 check to Vance County High School students, starting third from left to the right, Jaida Lewis, Kahlil Kingsberry, Arianna Long and Isaac Bell McLean. (Photo Credit: VCS)
Accepting the award for the Vance County High Vipers were Jaida Lewis, Arianna Long, Kahlil Kingsberry and Isaac Bell McLean. Lewis made comments on behalf of her fellow students and her school. She thanked everyone who supported them and worked with students to produce the video. A special thanks went to Campbell and to Destiny Ross, a technology and curriculum specialist with the school system, who led the development of the award-winning video
At the end of her comments, Lewis noted, “We are all Vance County Proud!”
Vance County High School received a handsome trophy and a check for $3,000 as the first-place winner in the competition, which included impressive video entries from approximately 30 high schools across North Carolina.
The Vance County Middle School Jaguars were awarded first place in the middle school video competition during awards recognitions held on November 12. Darlynn Oxendine, chairperson of the Vance County Board of Education, accepted the trophy and a $100 gift certificate on behalf of the school and its students. There were over 50 entries in the middle school video competition, with the Jaguars’ entry selected as the best.
Both of the schools’ videos were about 60 seconds in length and followed the theme “What is Super about Public Schools.”
Darlynn Oxendine, chairperson of the Vance County Board of Education, center, accepts the first-place trophy on behalf of Vance County Middle School at the N.C. School Boards Association State Conference from NCSBA officials Minnie Forte-Brown, left, and Paige Sayles. (Photo Credit: VCS)
The Vance County High School video features the music of the popular song “This Is How We Do It” with new words and singing done by students at the school. Led by the theater arts students, the video shows a variety of locations and classes within the high school and includes a large number of students and some school staff. The video has lots of energy, bright colors and a good variety of classroom and outdoor scenes, with the words written by the students scrolling across the bottom of the screen
The Vance County Middle School video follows a “Star Wars” type of theme and has a futuristic look. With student narration, background music and lots of impressive special effects, the video explores the future look of public schools. It also features different students shown in areas throughout the middle school.
Edward Ortega, now the assistant principal at both L.B. Yancey and Pinkston Street elementary schools, led the efforts to produce the middle school video. He was assisted by teachers and administrators at the school, as well as having great cooperation and participation by students.
The Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School students and educators who produced the videos will be honored by the Vance County Board of Education at its meeting on Monday, November 19, beginning at 7 p.m. in the school system’s Administrative Services Center.
Baker Tapped as Publisher for High Point Newspaper
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy The Daily Dispatch and Paxton Media Group
Henderson native Nancy Baker will assume the role of publisher at The High Point Enterprise upon the retirement of publisher Rick Bean.
Baker joined Paxton Media Group and the newspaper industry in 1995 as business manager of The Daily Dispatch. In 2004, she became business manager of The High Point Enterprise, and in 2011 was named Regional Controller for the division that consists of 12 newspapers throughout North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. Baker will continue to serve in this role in addition to assuming the publisher duties.
“I’m honored and excited to become publisher of The Enterprise,” Baker said. “We have a great leadership team and staff. High Point is in a transformational period of its history and I’m looking forward to contributing to the community however I can. This newspaper has a long history of excellence that we have every intention of continuing.”
Henderson native Nancy Baker will assume the role of publisher at The High Point Enterprise upon the retirement of publisher Rick Bean. (Photo Credit: The Daily Dispatch)
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for U.S. 401 Improvements Project
/by WIZS StaffPress Release, County of Franklin
LOUISBURG – Representatives from the N.C. Department of Transportation, Franklin County, and the 401 Citizens Action Committee held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for a section of the U.S. 401 improvements project between N.C. 96 and Flat Rock Church Road/Clifton Pond Road.
Developed through extensive collaboration between state, local and federal institutions, the improvements along the greater U.S. 401 corridor in Wake and Franklin Counties are designed to widen the corridor to a four-lane median divided highway between north of Ligon Mill Road and N.C. 39 in Louisburg.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Tobacco Receiving Station in Louisburg, NCDOT Division Engineer Joey Hopkins thanked a host of local partners and emphasized the importance of the coming improvements: “This is an exciting time for transportation in Franklin County and our entire state. Together, with you, we have realized a vision to give folks a safer and more efficient route to travel. We are improving mobility, reducing congestion, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.”
Emceed by the N.C. Board of Transportation’s Valerie Jordan, the ceremony also included remarks from Sidney Dunston, Franklin County Board of Commissioners; Cedric Jones, Franklin County Board of Commissioners; Gary Cunard, 401 Citizens Action Committee; and The Honorable Lucy Allen, Former Representative, N.C. House of Representatives.
Once started, this latest section of improvements is expected to open by Summer 2022.
***NCDOT***
Locally-Based Gifted Faithful Ministries Assisting Orphans in India
/by WIZS Staff-Information and photo courtesy Pastor Mike Holland, Gifted Faithful Ministries
Mike Holland, pastor of Gifted Faithful Ministries, is currently in India for a month to assist groups that house and care for orphans with sustainability projects.
“We have missions in Mexico City caring for and feeding homeless children there and are partners with several in India, one being a boy’s home,” said Holland. “I have spent a month helping with sustainability projects, as well as traveling and preaching throughout northern India.”
Gifted Faithful Ministries, based in Warren County, also assists people in crisis locally and throughout the country. “We help people in crisis locally, provide emergency housing when needed and are deeply involved with the Henderson Men’s Shelter. We also support several storm crisis events in NC and other states – such as Texas and Florida – and reach globally,” Holland said.
Speaking of global reach, Holland is glad that he can stay up-to-date on local news by tuning in to WIZS’ Town Talk program online from India. “It is pretty amazing that I can listen to Town Talk in a remote desert halfway around the world!”
For more information on the efforts of Gifted Faithful Ministries, please visit their website at www.giftedfaithful.org
Mike Holland, pastor of the Warren County-based Gifted Faithful Ministries, shown here with residents of a boy’s home in India (Photo Credit: Mike Holland)
Coach’s Corner 11/14/18
/by CharleneThe Coach’s Corner Show where we unite the community and local sports all at once. Join the Coach’s Corner Show every Wednesday morning kicking off at 7:45.
On this episode of the “Coach’s Corner Show,” Trey Snide sits down with the Seniors of Kerr Vance Acadamy of the Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, and Volleyball teams.
Town Talk 11/14/18
/by Larry