by Craig Hahn, Executive Director of The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County
Help the WCHS Class of ’97 Celebrate Their 20th Reunion Donations to GiveBackPacks
You never know where you’re going to uncover another treasure or worthy cause here in Warren County…and Saturday gave me the opportunity to uncover a great project. I met Rachel Perkinson Dickens, a graduate of the WCHS Class of 1997. To help celebrate their 20th Reunion this year, instead of planning a trip somewhere, they decided to give to their home County with GiveBackPacks. Here are the pertinent details…
Did YOU know?
North Carolina has one of the highest hunger rates in America. More than 1 in 4 children in North Carolina struggle with hunger. Hungry children have trouble concentrating, get sick more often, and are less likely to perform well on athletic fields and in classrooms.
How CAN you help?
Join the Warren County High School Class of 1997 to reach our goal of packing 200 GiveBackPacks. Each GiveBackPack provides easy-open, ready-to-eat food and school supplies. The packs will be distributed through the elementary schools to Warren County children in need.
What DO you do?
● Follow the instructions provided to make a GiveBackPack
● Donate school supplies or food items and bring them to designated drop-off locations.
● Make a monetary donation and let us put together a GiveBackPack for you. You can sponsor one pack for $35.
● Ask your business, church, or community organization to get involved.
How to Make a GiveBackPack:
Start with a backpack & add some of these:
● Glue Sticks
● Crayola markers
● Crayons
● #2 pencils
● Wide-ruled notebook paper
● Spiral bound notebook
● Erasers
And fill it up with these:
● Soup
● Dried fruit
● Peanut butter
● Whole grain cereal/granola bars
● Canned tuna, chicken, or beans
● Mac & cheese, rice, whole grain pasta
● Fruit cups in light syrup or applesauce cups
● 100% fruit juice boxes or shelf-stable box milk
● Spaghetti & Meatballs, Ravioli, Beefaroni, Lasagna
Bring it Here:
BB&T, Warrenton
Demond Andrews Barbershop
4 Girls and A Comb Salon
Tarheel Tire
Whistle Stop Cafe
or participating area churches *Collecting filled packs and donations through August 14, 2017
Oxford Prep Middle School jumps into Softball with an undefeated inaugural season
/by WIZS StaffThe Griffin’s Middle School softball team finished their inaugural season unbeaten. “We are very proud of this team. We go from not being certain if we have enough interest to actually have enough play, to having a history making season,” says Head coach Joe Don Cooper. When Cooper and Assistant coach Eddie Blake opened try outs, they only had 12 young ladies interested in playing. Coach Cooper remarked “this team is an example that overall great attitudes and work ethic breeds success.”
Plagued with some injuries early on, the Griffins adjusted quickly and blended inexperience with veteran softball players. The coaches credit defense as a major factor for the success this season. The defense was led by 8th grade standout Pitcher Jordan Dunn, as she partnered with 7th grade catcher Charly Cooper to create a very formidable battery. Dunn only gave up an impressive 2 earned runs all season. Solid and consistent play by veteran 8th grade players Emily Faucette, Claire Yancey, and offensive powerhouse Logan Privette (led the team in batting average) coupled with the effort and attitude of the cast of support players: Jaci Crute, Cayton Seivert, Averi Seivert, Ahlori Long, Laci Oettinger, Hallie Boone, and Ashlyn Roberson made for an incredible first season in Middle School softball. Cooper stated “It’s really awesome to be a part of a team that when these girls look back 10 to 15 years from now when talking about Oxford Prep Softball, they can say ‘Hey, I was on the first ever middle school softball team there …and … We were undefeated!’”
The team finished 10 – 0 on the season and earned key victories against Falls Lake Academy and Vance Charter. Oxford Preparatory School will join the Central Carolina Middle School Conference, with local emerging rivals Falls Lake Academy and Vance Charter School.
News 05/04/17
/by LarryOxford Prep Continues Golf Success
/by WIZS StaffOn Wednesday, April 26th the Oxford Preparatory School Varsity Golf Team concluded their stint in the Tar Roanoke Athletic Conference with not only finished the regular season with a Team Championship but won the Conference Tournament as a team. The team has achieved both honors for the last two years, which is quite a feat as this is only the second year of the existence of the team. In addition, 3 of the total 6 TRAC all conference player positions went to Senior Noah Greenway, Sophomore Jacob Bliss, and Sophomore Adam Sizemore. Freshman Wesley Aitken just missed all conference honors in 7th position.
Still riding high from their accomplishment, the Griffin golfers consisting of Noah Greenway, Jacob Bliss, Adam Sizemore, Wesley Aitken, and Junior Christian Furr rolled in to Washington, North Carolina for the 1A East Regional Competition on Monday, May 1st. After a disappointing showing finishing in third at the Regional last year, just making it through to the NCHSAA State Tournament the team was looking to make an improvement on their showing. They did just that taking the Championship as a team and advancing once again to the 1A Men’s State Chamionship, however, this time as Conference and 1A East Champions. The team will compete against all 1A team and individual qualifiers at Whispering Pines Country Club in Whispering Pines, NC on May 8th and 9th.
Rick Kenner, M.A.A.Ed.
SSG (Ret), US Army
NIAAA Registered Athletic Administrator
NFHS Certified Interscholastic Coach
Visual Art Instructor
Oxford Preparatory School
6041 Landis Rd
Oxford, NC, 27565
Animal Kingdom Show 05/03/17
/by CharleneTown Talk 05/03/17
/by CharleneGCPS Passes Budget, Includes $2.78 million in Budget Cuts
/by WIZS StaffTuesday, May 2, 2017
For Immediate Release
On Thursday, April 27, the Granville County Board of Education approved the budget for the 2017-2018 school year. This year’s budget process was particularly difficult as the Board faced both increased costs and projected decreased revenues, which made necessary substantial cuts in personnel and program expenditures. As a result, this budget includes more than $2.78 million dollars in total cuts from the previous year’s budget.
Specific areas where these cuts have been made include a reduction of the leadership positions in Central Services, including the elimination of two director positions and that of the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations, which will be made vacant by the retirement of Dr. Gillespie after July 1, 2017. The following positions and job duties will be reorganized as a result of these changes:
District Athletic Director
Driver’s Education Coordinator
Student Services, &
AIG Services
The Arts &
Community & Volunteer Coordinator
Federal Programs &
Afterschool Programs
Federal Programs,
Afterschool Programs &
McKinney-Vento Coordinator
Career and Technical Education &
Public Information Officer
District Webmaster
District Webmaster
Student Transfer Coordinator
Additional cuts will be made in funding for Technology, Granville Online, teacher substitutes, and Central Services general expense items. Projected reductions in student enrollment will also result in an accompanying reduction of the allotment for teacher assistants, teachers, custodians, guidance counselors, clerical positions and assistant principals. No specific positions have been identified as the department of Human Resources will seek to accommodate these cuts through attrition first.
Superintendent Howard and Board Chair Dr. Tom Houlihan issued a joint statement, saying “This budget proposal is the result of conscientious steps taken by the Board and administration to provide human and material resources needed while at the same time reducing our dependence on fund balance. For four years the school district has made significant budget cuts in an effort to be financially responsible, particularly with declining student enrollment and the fiscal limitations that are brought on by negative state and national budget changes.”
Warren County High Class of ’97 20th Reunion Dedicated to GiveBackPacks
/by WIZS Staffby Craig Hahn, Executive Director of The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County
Help the WCHS Class of ’97 Celebrate Their 20th Reunion Donations to GiveBackPacks
You never know where you’re going to uncover another treasure or worthy cause here in Warren County…and Saturday gave me the opportunity to uncover a great project. I met Rachel Perkinson Dickens, a graduate of the WCHS Class of 1997. To help celebrate their 20th Reunion this year, instead of planning a trip somewhere, they decided to give to their home County with GiveBackPacks. Here are the pertinent details…
Did YOU know?
North Carolina has one of the highest hunger rates in America. More than 1 in 4 children in North Carolina struggle with hunger. Hungry children have trouble concentrating, get sick more often, and are less likely to perform well on athletic fields and in classrooms.
How CAN you help?
Join the Warren County High School Class of 1997 to reach our goal of packing 200 GiveBackPacks. Each GiveBackPack provides easy-open, ready-to-eat food and school supplies. The packs will be distributed through the elementary schools to Warren County children in need.
What DO you do?
● Follow the instructions provided to make a GiveBackPack
● Donate school supplies or food items and bring them to designated drop-off locations.
● Make a monetary donation and let us put together a GiveBackPack for you. You can sponsor one pack for $35.
● Ask your business, church, or community organization to get involved.
How to Make a GiveBackPack:
Start with a backpack & add some of these:
● Glue Sticks
● Crayola markers
● Crayons
● #2 pencils
● Wide-ruled notebook paper
● Spiral bound notebook
● Erasers
And fill it up with these:
● Soup
● Dried fruit
● Peanut butter
● Whole grain cereal/granola bars
● Canned tuna, chicken, or beans
● Mac & cheese, rice, whole grain pasta
● Fruit cups in light syrup or applesauce cups
● 100% fruit juice boxes or shelf-stable box milk
● Spaghetti & Meatballs, Ravioli, Beefaroni, Lasagna
Bring it Here:
BB&T, Warrenton
Demond Andrews Barbershop
4 Girls and A Comb Salon
Tarheel Tire
Whistle Stop Cafe
or participating area churches *Collecting filled packs and donations through August 14, 2017
NC Cooperative Extension to rebrand
/by WIZS StaffRaleigh, N.C. – NC State Extension and The Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University have launched a rebranding effort for their strategic partnership known as N.C. Cooperative Extension. Effective immediately, a new logo is being rolled out in local Extension centers across the state, as NC State and N.C. A&T adopt a new marketing strategy to grow awareness and engagement for N.C. Cooperative Extension.
N.C. Cooperative Extension comprises the respective land-grant universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and 101 local governments statewide.
Growing awareness, creating prosperity
Dr. Rich Bonanno, associate dean and director of NC State Extension, said, “feedback during the planning phase made clear that those who know Extension love Extension, but many North Carolinians don’t know us or recognize the educational services being offered by these two premier universities in their own communities.”
Extension professionals in all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians translate research-based information and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T into everyday applications, providing educational programs specializing in agriculture, food and nutrition, 4-H youth development, community development and the environment.
“It’s critical to our mission and the growth of our state that we bolster efforts to provide North Carolinians with research-based tools from our universities, which starts by introducing ourselves with a fresh look,” added Bonanno.
Through the collective efforts of the individual partners, who form a vast network dating back to 1914, N.C. Cooperative Extension bridges the state’s two land-grant campuses with communities statewide.
Redesigned logo and simplified identity
NC State and N.C. A&T have introduced a new logo for their N.C. Cooperative Extension partnership, highlighting the involvement of each university. It’s a simple but key step according to Sheri Schwab, director of county operations with NC State Extension.
“It’s important that we emphasize the presence of the universities in communities across the state, while maintaining a unique identity for the Cooperative Extension partnership. People recognize the value behind NC State and N.C. A&T; we want them to know they have access to the latest research discoveries without being on campus.”
Visit the N.C. Cooperative Extension site to find your local Extension center: www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center.
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News 05/03/17
/by LarrySixteen Year-Old Dies From Gunshot Wound
/by WIZS StaffPress Release- May 2, 2017
On Friday April 28, 2017, at 4:50 p.m. members of the Henderson Police Department responded to the area of the 100 block of W. Rockspring Street in reference to someone being shot. Upon arrival, officers located George Juan Mayo, 16, with a gunshot wound. Mayo was transported to Duke Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries on April 29, 2017. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was contacted to assisting with the investigation.
A fifteen year-old male juvenile has been charged with Murder with Malice and is in custody. The juvenile’s information is being withheld due to his age.
If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Callers may remain anonymous.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow