Taeshawn Alston has one more season to suit up in the green and white uniform as a Vance County Viper before he trades those colors for the garnet and black of the University of South Carolina.
As of Tuesday, Alston has committed to play football for the SEC school located in Columbia, SC.
Alston and Vipers Coach Aaron Elliott were on Sports Talk Wednesday to talk about the recruiting process and what led to Alston’s decision to become a Gamecock.
“Coach Beamer is amazing,” Alston said, referring to Head Coach Shane Beamer, son of legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer, adding that it “felt like home, then and there,” when he paid a visit to the school. “It just clicked with me.”
He’d been on their radar since April 2023, and Alston said he liked everything about the coaching staff – how they treat the players and how, in turn, the players treated recruits like him who were visiting.
And then there’s the “Game Day atmosphere,” he said, surrounding the famed Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the Gamecocks.
Being the focus of coaches’ attention during the recruiting process was fun, Alston said. “It was good, (but) sometimes it was stressful.” He named UNC-CH, Virginia Tech and Rutgers as other schools that were interested in what he could bring to their programs.
As a coach, Elliott said he encouraged Alston to “find a place that best fits him – a place that’s going to show him love, that wants him to be there…and wants him to grow as a player.”
When schools contact Elliott about his players, it’s always “measurables” that they want to know about: How fast can he run? How tall is he? How does he move? What are his grades like?
“Taeshawn checks all those boxes,” Elliott said. “It was easy for me to talk to coaches about Taeshawn,” he explained, which shows “he’s doing what he needs to be doing on the field and in the classroom.”
When Alston takes the field this fall for his final season as a Viper, he’ll be playing linebacker and EDGE. He likes both positions, so he’s happy to go in any direction his coaches decide.
The coaching staff at USC has said they’d like for him to get a little bigger, something that Alston has taken to heart. For the record, he’s listed now at 6-foot-4 and about 230 pounds.
Alston has a good idea about what USC will give him – a chance to play against top-level opponents in the SEC and a quality education. But what are the Gamecocks getting from him?
“They’re getting a great athlete, a great academic student,” Alston said. “I feel like they’re getting a monster, on the field and in the classroom.”
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TownTalk: Wise Community To Celebrate 4th Of July
/by WIZS StaffEverything’s all set for the 23rd edition of the Wise July 4 Independence Day parade and festival. Mary Ann Perkinson, one of the organizers, said participants can enjoy live music, children’s activities and food and craft vendors after the parade passes by, but she’s not spilling the beans about the parade – “You’ll have to come see what they are – we’re not going to tell all of our secrets,” Perkinson said on Thursday’s TownTalk.
Bring a chair so you can sit under the shade of the trees in the church yard or under the pavilion at Wise Baptist Church, she said. Feature Attraction will be performing during the festival, which begins as soon as the last parade entry passes by.
They’re still taking entries, so anyone with a pretty, shiny car to show off or a wagon pulling grandchildren is welcome to phone Gary Paynter 252.438.0574. (No motorcycles or four-wheelers, she said.)
The parade begins at 10 a.m., so entrants need to be lined up earlier than that just across U.S. 1 from Bruce Parkinson’s home, Perkinson said. The parade route will follow U.S. 1 and will end right at the old school at Wise Baptist Church.
There’s plenty of parking there for people, and Perkinson said she and other organizers figure there will be upwards of 5,000 people who stop in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The parade and festival got its start in 2000, and since then, they’ve only missed one year. Yep, one parade was sidelined because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There will be different foods for sale, including homemade ice cream in flavors like peach, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.
“It’s just a fun day for everybody,” Perkinson said. Organizing it is “a lot of work, but we do it because we love our community and we hope people will come.”
For more information about parade entry, vendor space or the car show please contact Gary Paynter at 252.438.0574, Danielle Edgerton at 252.204.2605 or Mike McCray at 919.604.3081.
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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Cleaning Engine Compartment
/by WIZS StaffFor our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.
Here’s a question for you: When was the last time you cleaned your car or truck?
If your answer is within the last month, give yourself a pat on the back. Good job keeping your vehicle looking nice.
Here’s another one for you: When was the last time you cleaned the engine?
Yep. The engine.
It’s important to keep the engine compartment clean for a couple of reasons, and the professional staff at Advance Auto Parts can help you select the products you need, from a quick rinse-off to a degreaser to go after some major build-up.
A clean engine helps keep your resale value high – what prospective buyer wouldn’t love to pop the hood and see a gleaming engine? As the vehicle owner, keeping the engine compartment free of dirt and grime also cuts down on premature wear of belts, hoses and gaskets.
And it helps the engine stay cooler and operate efficiently, too.
Cover the battery, alternator and carburetor with plastic and take care around coil packs and fuse panels. And the engine should be cool before you spray it with a particular product or with water.
Go after the dirt a little at the time, rinsing with low-pressure water and checking progress regularly.
Hand clean around the areas that you covered with plastic with soap, small brushes or a hand mitt.
The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS. Safety First! Always seek proper help. This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 06-27-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Follow Boating, Water Safety Rules To Keep Recreation Activities Fun, Enjoyable
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of the N.C. Dept. of Insurance
Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is urging everyone to take extra precautions during one of the most popular water recreational times of the year.
“Independence Day is a great opportunity to celebrate our freedom on the water with friends, family and neighbors,” Causey said. “Beaches, lakes and waterways will be crowded 4th of July weekend. Many of us will be either in the water or on watercraft. It’s important to remember to be safe and responsible as you head out on the boat, jet ski, kayak or as you swim during these celebrations,” he said.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has reported 37 boating incidents across the state thus far in 2024. “We’ve had far too many water deaths and close calls this year,” Causey said, adding that those boating incidents resulted in seven deaths.
Remember these boating safety reminders if you are a boat owner and are entertaining others on board, or if you are a rider on a boat:
The beaches will be crowded this summer. Remember to pay attention to the warning flags at the beach that indicate the possibility of rip currents. A rip current’s force is strong enough to pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
Recently, Commissioner Causey joined the Surf City Fire and Ocean Rescue Team and Surf City Mayor Teresa Batts to highlight how to stay safe on the water this summer.
View our video from Surf City.
View our boating safety video for more boating safety tips.
Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Bedtime Problems, Pt. 5
/by Bill HarrisListen 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: Men’s Shelter Closing In On New Home At Former City Road Methodist Church
/by Bill HarrisThe nation celebrates Independence Day next week, and just a few days later on July 8, the emergency men’s shelter is planning an independence day celebration of its own – that’s the day the shelter leaves its current location and clients will call City Road Center of Hope home. Darryl Jones, the shelter’s program manager, said the building is going through the final phases of meeting all the code requirements, and Monday, July 8 should be the day when the shelter will be operating at the new location.
An official ribbon-cutting is planned for August, but until then, the larger shelter can serve more clients. The current shelter is full, Jones said, with 11 men housed there.
This day has been a long time coming, and Jones said this is not the end of a project, but rather, just the beginning.
The 365 Dream Team project seeks to find 365 donors to give $365 a year to help the shelter stay open 365 days a year.
“Without you all, we wouldn’t be doing this – you are our backbone and we still need your support,” Jones said when he was a guest on a recent TownTalk segment.
Area churches, organizations and individuals provide support through financial contributions, providing meals or other supplies the shelter needs.
And area restaurants help provide food for shelter clients, too. “We’re so thankful for them and for the churches,” Jones said. “I’m pleased and overwhelmed with joy and happiness” that all these people are coming together to help the mission of helping men overcome life’s challenges and get back on their feet.
Visit www.cp-hope.org to learn how you can help. Make a financial donation, sign up to provide a meal, or volunteer.
Send tax-deductible contributions to:
Community Partners of Hope, Inc.
P.O. Box 1791
Henderson, NC 27536
Please note in Memo Line 365-2024-05
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Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
Wayne Rowland of the Vance Co. Extension Service passes along information for gardeners.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 06-26-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
SportsTalk: Alston Signs With South Carolina
/by Laura GabelTaeshawn Alston has one more season to suit up in the green and white uniform as a Vance County Viper before he trades those colors for the garnet and black of the University of South Carolina.
As of Tuesday, Alston has committed to play football for the SEC school located in Columbia, SC.
Alston and Vipers Coach Aaron Elliott were on Sports Talk Wednesday to talk about the recruiting process and what led to Alston’s decision to become a Gamecock.
“Coach Beamer is amazing,” Alston said, referring to Head Coach Shane Beamer, son of legendary Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer, adding that it “felt like home, then and there,” when he paid a visit to the school. “It just clicked with me.”
He’d been on their radar since April 2023, and Alston said he liked everything about the coaching staff – how they treat the players and how, in turn, the players treated recruits like him who were visiting.
And then there’s the “Game Day atmosphere,” he said, surrounding the famed Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the Gamecocks.
Being the focus of coaches’ attention during the recruiting process was fun, Alston said. “It was good, (but) sometimes it was stressful.” He named UNC-CH, Virginia Tech and Rutgers as other schools that were interested in what he could bring to their programs.
As a coach, Elliott said he encouraged Alston to “find a place that best fits him – a place that’s going to show him love, that wants him to be there…and wants him to grow as a player.”
When schools contact Elliott about his players, it’s always “measurables” that they want to know about: How fast can he run? How tall is he? How does he move? What are his grades like?
“Taeshawn checks all those boxes,” Elliott said. “It was easy for me to talk to coaches about Taeshawn,” he explained, which shows “he’s doing what he needs to be doing on the field and in the classroom.”
When Alston takes the field this fall for his final season as a Viper, he’ll be playing linebacker and EDGE. He likes both positions, so he’s happy to go in any direction his coaches decide.
The coaching staff at USC has said they’d like for him to get a little bigger, something that Alston has taken to heart. For the record, he’s listed now at 6-foot-4 and about 230 pounds.
Alston has a good idea about what USC will give him – a chance to play against top-level opponents in the SEC and a quality education. But what are the Gamecocks getting from him?
“They’re getting a great athlete, a great academic student,” Alston said. “I feel like they’re getting a monster, on the field and in the classroom.”
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Warren Seniors Can Get Coupons To Buy Fresh Produce At Local Farmers Market
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of Warren County Executive Assistant/Deputy Clerk Monique Hinton
The Warren County Senior Center and Warren County Cooperative Extension are teaming up to launch a program that will provide low-income senior adults with coupons that they can use to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at their local farmers’ markets.
Senior adults can visit the Warren County Senior Center on Mondays between 9 a.m. and 12 noon or Thursdays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to get coupons once during the growing season. The program kicked off last week, but there’s still plenty of time to stop in and get qualified.
In addition to getting healthy foods into the hands of older adults to improve their nutritional status, the program also helps local farmers increase their business and creates awareness of the local farmers market, said
A recipient must be a Warren County resident aged 60 years or older and meet certain self-declared monthly income eligibility requirements. Monthly household income of no more than 185 percent of the 2024 federal guidelines; up to $2,322 for a one-person household or $3,142 for a two-person household.
The coupons are valid through Sept. 30, 2024, for use at the Warren County Farmers’ Market, located in the parking lot of the Warren County Health Department, at 544 West Ridgeway St., Warrenton. The Warren County Farmers’ Market operates on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, April through mid-October.
Contact the Warren County Senior Center at 252.257.3111 to learn more.