TownTalk Around Old Granville: Forgotten Historical Figures, Pt. 2

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Remember Soupy Sales? What about Charlie Briggs?

Both were television stars, before streaming became a preferred way of watching shows certainly before binge watching was a “thing.”

But both men share something else in common: They are both from the area known as “Old Granville County” and were the topic of Thursday’s TownTalk segment of the same name.

Sales, a comedian and variety show performer, hailed from Franklinton and Briggs was from right here in Henderson. His may not be a household name, but viewers of the old TV shows like Bonanza, Maverick and The Sons of Will Sonnet will no doubt recognize his face, said Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room Specialist at the Thornton Library in Oxford.

The local area has produced its share of entertainers over the years – Gerald Alston of the Manhattans, country music songwriter Danny Flowers and Ben E. King, just to name a few.

But there are plenty of noteworthy individuals who achieved stardom of a sort in other endeavors as well, leaving their marks in the area of religion, the military and other segments of society.

Take Henry Haywood Bell, for example. Bell was from Franklin County, and was an admiral in the Union Navy during the Civil War. He was from the South, but when it came time to choose sides, he said he had made an oath to serve the United States, so his allegiance was with the North.

Then there’s Charity Adams Early, who was born in Kittrell. Early was the first African American female Army officer, who rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. Early died in 2002.

Kirkland H. Donald, from Norlina, still serves as a consultant to the U.S. Navy, Pace said. Donald, a Navy admiral, became commander of all the nuclear submarines in the Navy.

Col. Redding F. Perry from Henderson was career military, and served as chief of staff for Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army, Pace said. Perry, who was the uncle of longtime local attorney Bennett Perry, also established the National Guard in the state.

The Wyche family produced numerous members who made significant contributions as well.

Brigadier General Ira Wyche commanded the 79th infantry division during the Normandy invasion of World War II

Mary Lewis Wyche is credited with bringing the first nursing school to the state.  Known as the “Florence Nightingale” of North Carolina, Wyche also was the first trained nurse in North Carolina. She has a historical marker at Highway 39 and Glebe Road in Vance County, near the home where she grew up.

Alice Morgan Person, from Kittrell, contributed to people’s health in a slightly different way, Pace said.

“She was famous for her ‘remedy,’” he said. He’s not sure of all its ingredients, but he knows of one: “I know it contained alcohol.”

 

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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Car Washing

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— For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Cleaning the exterior of your car or truck may sound pretty basic – sort of like writing instructions for how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – but when you break it down step by step, you may realize that doing things in a certain order produces better results.

The shelves at Advance Auto Parts are filled with cleaning products from detergent to bug and grime remover, wheel brushes to soft chamois cloths. If you’re unsure about just which products to choose, consult the professional staff at Advance Auto to get steered in the right direction.

  • Wash your car in a shady area and when the engine is cool.
  • Use cool water and a detergent specially formulated for use on vehicles.
  • Wheel brushes gently loosen grime and other crud that gets stuck on rims and tires; rinse often to prevent particles from scratching the surface.
  • Start at the top and work your way down, spraying down the entire vehicle wet before you start cleaning with soap. Work in sections to avoid soap drying on the vehicle.
  • Wax provides an extra layer of protection for the paint job. Apply wax to a clean, dry surface with a soft, clean rag. Work in circles and let the wax dry before using another clean, dry cloth to finish the process.

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.

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SportsTalk: Mangum Lights It Up For The Bulls

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Jake Mangum, Outfielder for the Durham Bulls, discusses his success this season.

 

When the lights come on, the stars shine brighter. On Wednesday night that’s what happened
when the Durham Bulls beat the Nashville Sounds in an epic Minor League matchup 10-9 in
extra innings. This, thanks to Jake Mangum who stole third base in the bottom of the 12th inning
and scored the game-winning run, thanks to a throwing error by Nashville pitcher Blake Holub.
Jake Mangum appeared on WIZS’s SportsTalk with Bill Harris, Scout Hughes, and George Hoyle
to discuss it all.

Jake Mangum comes from a sports family. Mangum’s grandfather was an All-American Football
Player at Southern Mississippi, Jake’s father was an All-American Football Player at Alabama,
who played for the Chicago Bears. His uncle played football for Ole Miss and the Carolina
Panthers, so it’s clear that Mangum’s family is in sports history. With everyone playing football
Jake says that, “At an early age I just fell in love with it (baseball)…at an early age, baseball just
seemed like the right fit for me.”

Mangum is currently batting with an average of .328 with three home runs and 37 RBI’s and he
gives credit for his success in the minor leagues to a lot of things, “I’m pretty much live pitch-by-
pitch, prayer-to-prayer. Every pitch I’m asking help from the Big Man Upstairs. Growing up, I did
a ton of work with my Dad. He really helped me prepare and work to be the best baseball
player I can be. I’ve had so many great teammates, so many great coaches. There’s a long list of
things that have helped me. It definitely wasn’t me alone, I can promise you that. It’s a very
challenging game, but I’ve had a lot of help along the way to help me navigate that the best I
can.” Jake plans to turn his success in the minor leagues into making his dreams become reality, “I
would love to get an opportunity in the big leagues. But other than that (for right now) I’m just
gonna control what I can control and try to be the best baseball player that I can be, one day at
a time.”

This is the first year that Mangum has been a Durham Bull. Even though he’s only been in the
Bull City for a short time, Mangum believes that the Research Triangle is a viable location for a
Major League Baseball Franchise, “Seeing how our crowds are in Durham…there is a lot of
baseball support in the state of North Carolina. I see absolutely no reason as to why that they
couldn’t support a major league baseball team.” He also states that there is a void of Major
League Baseball with the southeastern part of the United States, “I think the southeast of
America has a big gap of no Major League Baseball team…it’s all Atlanta Braves fans.”

Best of luck to you Jake and you’ll have a group from Henderson and Vance County rooting for
you.

After Jake Mangum left the show, the guys transitioned into the Vance County Football
Scrimmage that took place on Wednesday at Vance County High School. Where the Vipers took
on Southern Nash and Hillside Durham. Bill, Scout and George all agreed that playing schools
such as Southern Nash and Hillside Durham even in a scrimmage will make Vance County Football better in the long run. The Vipers scrimmage once again on Saturday August 17th from
Wake Forest High School at 6:00pm against Jordan High School from Durham.

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Granville School Board Names Gwen Roulhac Principal At Early College

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The Granville County Board of Education named Dr. Gwen Roulhac as the principal of Granville Early College High School. Roulhac has more than 20 years of experience in education and has previously served schools in Orange and Durham counties as a principal, assistant principal, testing coordinator, school counselor and teacher, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin.

In a written statement, Roulhac said she was “ecstatic and humbled” to be the school’s new principal.  “I cannot wait to join the Spartan family and, together, engage in the important work that will sustain and enhance the legacy of academic and cultural excellence for which Granville Early College High School is celebrated.”

Roulhac has four degrees, all from UNC-CH – a bachelor of Arts in English, master’s in Teaching, a master’s in Guidance and Counseling and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

She succeeds Jackie Harris, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Earlier in the summer, the board named Kellye Walton as the district’s recruitment and retention coordinator. Walton is a former North Carolina Teaching Fellow and member of the first cohort of CCP3 Principal Fellows at N.C. Central University. She earned national board certification during her 16 years in education, 10 of which have been in Granville County. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Walton has been a reading specialist, instructional coach and assistant principal. Walton holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s in School Administration from N.C. Central.

VGCC Logo

VGCC Health Sciences Programs Has Dual Pinning Ceremony for 14 Graduates

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-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

The Vance-Granville Community College School of Health Sciences’ Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing programs honored 14 students at their very first joint pinning ceremony on July 24. Family, friends, faculty and VGCC leaders attended the ceremony, which took place at the Civic Center on the Main Campus.

VGCC Vice President Kim Sepich offered a welcome and congratulations to the students upon successful completion of their programs. Dr. Mercedes Kamoru, program head for Medical Assisting, had five students honored at the ceremony. Nursing instructor Leslie Parrott had nine students honored.

Both programs had a student speaker who spoke on behalf of their peers, reflecting on their shared journey. Normalejandra Avila-Velazquez represented the Medical Assisting program, and Taushua Alston-Eaton represented the Practical Nursing program. The graduates expressed their gratitude to the faculty for their dedication and mentorship. They also thanked their families and friends for their unwavering support throughout their educational journey. The atmosphere was filled with emotion as graduates shared personal stories of their experiences and the impact of their loved ones’ encouragement.

The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage in the medical assisting and nursing profession, symbolizing the completion of rigorous training and the beginning of a career dedicated to caring for others. Each graduate was called to the stage, where they received their pin from a family member with faculty assisting them. The pins, shining brightly, represented not only the graduates’ academic achievements but also their readiness to serve with compassion and excellence.

Dr. Angela Thomas, dean of Health Sciences, led the Medical Assisting students through the Medical Assisting Creed; Dr. Brande McIlroy led the Nursing students through the Nursing Pledge and the traditional lighting of the lamps.

The pinning ceremony marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. The Class of 2024 is now ready to take on the challenges and rewards of the Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing professions, armed with the education, experience and passion to make a meaningful impact on their patients’ lives.

Those who could not attend may view the event’s livestream on the College’s YouTube page.

 

VGCC Medical Assisting Class of 2024:

  • Normalejandra Avila-Velazquez
  • Kimberly Ayscue
  • Amber Bolton
  • Amaya Sneed
  • Yolanda Taylor

VGCC Practical Nursing Class of 2024:

  • Taushua Alston-Eaton
  • Alexus Barnes
  • Susan Chebet
  • Evelyn Faucette
  • Regina Nderitu
  • Enock Tanui
  • Toshiba Valentine
  • Dawn Williams
  • Jennifer Young

 

Visit www.vgcc.edu to learn more.

SportsTalk: Margaret Foster, who helped NBC Sports in Paris, stopped by WIZS

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If NBC gave out medals for production assistants who went “above and beyond” to make sure the Summer Olympics broadcasts went smoothly, Margaret Foster surely would have brought home a Gold.

Foster, a 2023 graduate of UNC-CH, put her political science and French degree to good use during her three-week stint working behind the scenes at the beach volleyball venue.

It was during a study abroad semester in Paris that Foster decided she wanted to play a role.

“I saw the city preparing for the upcoming Olympics,” she said on Wednesday’s Sports Talk.

Her dad, Lee Foster, who grew up in Henderson, had some friends with ties to the business. One friend, Lance Stewart, was a big help, she said.

“He really helped me network with some of his former colleagues,” the younger Foster said, and she applied to be a production assistant/runner for the network.

Part of the job entailed being a liaison between the NBC crew on the ground and celebrities who visited the venue. Think Snoop Dogg, Al Roker and Hoda Kotb.

Starstruck moments? Foster said the employees sat in on seminars that spelled out the way to behave when big names were near. “We’re supposed to act professional,” she said, adding that she did manage to sneak some selfies.

But it also involved the logistical work of making sure that things were all set on the technical side. “It was 12-15 hours that first week, setting up everything,” she said.

But she also got to use her language skills and enjoyed being a bridge between the NBC English-speaking crew and the local French-speaking crews.

Foster characterized the work as “madness and a blur,” with crazy hours. Some of the beach volleyball matches, for example, began at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Paris time.

Towards the end of the Games, however, especially during the medal matches, things settled down a bit and it wasn’t so hectic.

One of her more hectic moments came when Snoop Dogg, the unofficial Olympic mascot, came to the beach volleyball venue. She said she was on her feet from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at least. And she found herself sprinting down the street to get a bag of ice and a Coca-Cola for the singer-turned Olympic cheerleader.

When Snoop wants a Coke – in a plastic bottle – that’s what he gets. And when he was visiting her venue, it was Foster’s job to make sure he got it.

As a poli sci major at UNC, Foster didn’t really envision a future in television. But with her Olympics experience under her belt, she’s giving it some thought. She’ll be moving to New York City in a few weeks to live with a best friend from college. And while she’s not sure what the future holds, she’s got some stories to tell about three weeks in Paris.

 

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Vance County Tourism

TownTalk: Catfish Drop for New Year’s by Vance County Tourism

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New York City’s Times Square has that iconic glittery orb. Raleigh has a giant acorn. Shoot, Mt. Olive has a giant pickle covered in lights. But this New Year’s Eve, families can head out to Satterwhite Point to witness a first: a giant blue catfish drop to usher in 2025.

It’s all part of a plan by Vance County Tourism and other partners, most recently the Vance County Board of Commissioners, who signed off on the event at their regular meeting held Aug. 5 meeting.

The idea has been in the works for a few years, said Pam Hester, Vance County tourism director. Hester and fellow tourism staffer Norman Dickerson were guests on TownTalk Wednesday to talk about the impact tourism and visitors had on the local economy in 2023, and to discuss how the county’s attractions affect the bottom line.

Adding another signature event like the New Year’s Eve catfish drop to the county’s calendar, she said, will only increase that economic impact. When families come out to the lake on Dec. 31, they can expect vendors, entertainment, fireworks and more before that big ol’ catfish is lowered from the sky to welcome the New Year.

Why a catfish? Back in 2011, a fisherman snagged a recod-breaking whopper from the lake – a 143-pound blue cat. Now, a local artist is creating another whopper, Hester said.

This one will most likely be hooked – by a crane – and dropped – not reeled in- on New Year’s Eve could be the next “big” thing to bring visitors – and their dollars – to the county.

Last year’s tourism numbers are impressive, and Hester said Vance County garnered $70.2 million in visitor spending. That’s an 8.1 percent increase in 2023 from the previous year, which surpasses both Granville and Franklin counties, but is not quite as much as Warren County, which saw a 10.8 percent jump in 2023 for a whopping $73 million in tourism dollars. Vance County is ranked 15th among the state’s 100 counties in terms of growth rate with that 8.1 percent; Warren (10.8 percent) and Franklin (10.6 percent) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Booked hotel rooms generate an occupancy tax that goes to county coffers. That money, along with sales tax that comes from restaurants and other retailers, creates revenue for the county – in 2023, that figure is the equivalent of $119.76 per resident in tax savings.

“We’re lucky to have McGregor Hall and we’re lucky to have Kerr Lake,” Hester said. “They are our main attractions,” Hester said. In addition to the New Year’s Eve event, there are plans to further capitalize on Kerr Lake by creating an event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.

Visit https://partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies to find a complete county-by-county breakdown of visitor spending in the state.

Here is a snapshot of the four-county area:

Vance County

Total visitor spending – $70.02 million

Lodging: $15.44 million

Food & Beverage: $23.13 million

Recreation: $9.5 million

Retail: $5.93 million

Transport: $16.02 million

Granville County

Total visitor spending – $60.98 million

Lodging: $13.31 million

Food & Beverage: $20.04 million

Recreation: $9.18 million

Retail: $4.49 million

Transport: $13.96 million

Warren County

Total visitor spending – $73.02 million

Lodging: $18.54 million

Food & Beverage: $21.28 million

Recreation: $10.41 million

Retail: $5.96 million

Transport: $ 16.83 million

Franklin County

Total visitor spending – $42.15 million

Lodging: $8.46 million

Food & Beverage: $14.55 million

Recreation: $5.81 million

Retail: $3.05 million

Transport: $ 10.28 million

 

 

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TownTalk: Janie Martin Is Vance County’s August Employee Of The Month

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners honored Vance County Sheriff’s Office Senior Administrative Assistant Janie Martin at its Aug. 5 board meeting as the county’s employee of the month.

In her presentation, colleague Debbie Scott said Martin is a champion at teamwork – someone who “never hesitates to get involved and be of assistance.”

Her initiative to handle whatever comes up within the sheriff’s office makes her “highly valuable…and an asset,” Scott continued.

Above all, her optimism, professionalism and dedication to her job show throughout the workday – and beyond. She is always just a phone call away, and often spends extra hours to make sure the office is running efficiently and effectively.

Sheriff Curtis Brame said Martin began her career at the sheriff’s office in 2013 as an employee at the detention center. In 2016, she became administrative assistant to then-sheriff Peter White.

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