The men’s emergency shelter will open for the season in just over a month, but if Delthine Watson has anything to say about it, it will be the last time that the shelter will be open only in the fall and winter months.
“People need a place to go…away from the elements,” Watson told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Thursday’s TownTalk. The weather is something we have no control over, so whether the shelter can provide relief from the harsh winter cold or the relentless summer heat, that’s what she wants to do.
“(Homelessness) is not a seasonal problem,” she said, “we’re just a seasonal shelter – at this point. But we are working on that.”
Watson, community network specialist for Community Partners of Hope, said plans to upfit the former City Road Methodist Church to become the permanent 12-month location for the men’s shelter is taking shape.
Once all the paperwork is signed – and the money raised to make the necessary renovations to transform the church property – Watson said they’d be able to accommodate more men.
“At City Road, we might be able to prepare meals and give the men a place to not just sleep,” she said, but also a place to socialize with others and make connections with other people.
CPOH is working hard to raise the money to fulfill the vision that’s been in the making for the past 15 years – this is the 16th year of operation for the men’s shelter.
This is the only men’s shelter in the four-county area, but Watson said they get calls from Durham and Wake counties and even from Virginia.
It’s hard to say just how many homeless people are in Vance County and beyond, but Watson said this about the problem: “When we are open, we are almost filled to capacity.”
“We have a lot of displaced people who have nowhere to go,” she said.
She said the shelter is a “beacon of light” to people who have nothing. “If you come to the shelter, we give you clean clothes, and a meal and we give you hope.”
The shelter opens its doors at 5:30 each afternoon, but staff doesn’t always know how many men will enter. They try to have various sizes of clothing on hand and Watson said they have a special need for pajama bottoms and underwear.
They’ve got a lot of socks, but she said she would never turn away a donation from the community.
We are Community Partners of Hope, she said, emphasis on community.
There are opportunities for individuals and groups to support and contribute to the shelter, from signing up to provide a meal to making a monetary donation.
Visit www.cp-hope.org or follow them on Facebook to learn about all the ways to help
“Whatever it is you’re willing to do, we appreciate it,” Watson said. “We welcome whatever it is you want to do.”
Here’s how she looks at homelessness: “it’s not a goal you strive for, it’s something that happens to you. Showing a little kindness can go a long way.”
The shelter staff and the community that offers support lets the men know that they are loved and cared for, she said.
Watson can be reached at 252.767.0344.
Make checks payable to CP-OH Building Fund of CP-OH Operating Fund, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536.
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SportsTalk: Vipers Look For Third Win Of The Season Against Orange
/by Bill HarrisLast Friday night the Vance County Vipers dismantled Roanoke Rapids 52-14. “I was surprised that Roanoke Rapids was not as competitive,” Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. The Vipers eliminated many of the penalties that plagued the team in a win over Warren County in week one. That, along with a six touchdown performance from quarterback Javion Vines-Holder helped shut down Roanoke Rapids. “He is slowly getting better. He only lacks confidence,” Elliott said of his young quarterback.
With five touchdown passes and another on the ground Vines-Holder is a threat to run or pass. “We built our offense around a true running quarterback,” Coach Elliott added. “It opens up opportunities,” stated Elliott.
The Vipers will be looking for those opportunities as they take on Orange this Friday night at Viper Stadium. Orange is 1-1 on the year and is a team full of athletes Elliott said of this week’s opponent. Orange will throw a 3-3 Stack defense against the potent Viper offense and that is a style of defense the Vipers have not faced. “We’ve worked all week on how to block it and how to read it,” Elliott said.
The Vipers can move to 3-0 on the season with a win Friday night. Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue for the live play by play beginning immediately following the Joy Christian Center broadcast at 6:50pm here on WIZS for Vance County Friday Night Football.
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SportsTalk: Oxford Prep’s Challenging Schedule Could Pay Dividends Later
/by Bill HarrisIt takes a young team time to learn and Oxford Prep Athletic Director John Hammett hopes the school volleyball team’s challenging schedule to open the season will do exactly that. Oxford Prep opened with two losses against Wake Prep and East Wake. Both schools field strong volleyball programs. Those losses were followed by two close wins against Kerr Vance Academy.
Conference play opened with a loss against Roxboro community this week. “We hope the schedule will pay dividends later,” Hammett said of his young team on Thursday’s SportsTalk. “We just have to play through it,” Hammett continued.
On the soccer field Oxford Prep won against Kerr Vance Academy last week but lost to Granville Central. Hammett is also optimistic about the soccer program. “Our numbers are up,” Hammett stated. “We are taking small steps building our program,” Hammett added.
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TownTalk: Community Partners Of Hope To Open Men’s Shelter October 1
/by Laura GabelThe men’s emergency shelter will open for the season in just over a month, but if Delthine Watson has anything to say about it, it will be the last time that the shelter will be open only in the fall and winter months.
“People need a place to go…away from the elements,” Watson told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Thursday’s TownTalk. The weather is something we have no control over, so whether the shelter can provide relief from the harsh winter cold or the relentless summer heat, that’s what she wants to do.
“(Homelessness) is not a seasonal problem,” she said, “we’re just a seasonal shelter – at this point. But we are working on that.”
Watson, community network specialist for Community Partners of Hope, said plans to upfit the former City Road Methodist Church to become the permanent 12-month location for the men’s shelter is taking shape.
Once all the paperwork is signed – and the money raised to make the necessary renovations to transform the church property – Watson said they’d be able to accommodate more men.
“At City Road, we might be able to prepare meals and give the men a place to not just sleep,” she said, but also a place to socialize with others and make connections with other people.
CPOH is working hard to raise the money to fulfill the vision that’s been in the making for the past 15 years – this is the 16th year of operation for the men’s shelter.
This is the only men’s shelter in the four-county area, but Watson said they get calls from Durham and Wake counties and even from Virginia.
It’s hard to say just how many homeless people are in Vance County and beyond, but Watson said this about the problem: “When we are open, we are almost filled to capacity.”
“We have a lot of displaced people who have nowhere to go,” she said.
She said the shelter is a “beacon of light” to people who have nothing. “If you come to the shelter, we give you clean clothes, and a meal and we give you hope.”
The shelter opens its doors at 5:30 each afternoon, but staff doesn’t always know how many men will enter. They try to have various sizes of clothing on hand and Watson said they have a special need for pajama bottoms and underwear.
They’ve got a lot of socks, but she said she would never turn away a donation from the community.
We are Community Partners of Hope, she said, emphasis on community.
There are opportunities for individuals and groups to support and contribute to the shelter, from signing up to provide a meal to making a monetary donation.
Visit www.cp-hope.org or follow them on Facebook to learn about all the ways to help
“Whatever it is you’re willing to do, we appreciate it,” Watson said. “We welcome whatever it is you want to do.”
Here’s how she looks at homelessness: “it’s not a goal you strive for, it’s something that happens to you. Showing a little kindness can go a long way.”
The shelter staff and the community that offers support lets the men know that they are loved and cared for, she said.
Watson can be reached at 252.767.0344.
Make checks payable to CP-OH Building Fund of CP-OH Operating Fund, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 08-31-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The Local Skinny! Henderson Fruit And Produce Expands To Warrenton
/by Laura GabelIt’s been a few years since Warrenton has had a grocery store, but Chris Fisher, owner of Henderson Fruit and Produce, is getting ready to change that – hopefully, by Saturday.
Stop by 140 S. Main St. in downtown Warrenton to check out Henderson Fruit and Produce of Warrenton.
People familiar with the Henderson location at 1215 Old Norlina Rd. may see some familiar items, Fisher said, but he described the Warrenton location as more of a butcher shop, deli and retail store and less of the bulk items that the Henderson store is known for.
Having two locations obviously means double the work, but Fisher is excited for the opportunity and said the fact that they’re only 10 or so miles apart makes it doable.
“I’ve got a great staff – they do most of the work,” he said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
The new location has a prime spot in downtown Warrenton, and Fisher said customers can come in for fresh meats, produce, deli items and more.
Need to order for a special occasion? No problem. They can get pigs for pig pickin’s and keep ribeyes and tenderloins in stock. Most special orders are next-day deliveries, but if it’s a large order, it could take a couple of days.
Check out the weekend specials on their Facebook page, or give the Warrenton store a call at 252.879.0234.
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Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
/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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Vance County Sheriff’s Office Makes Drug Arrest
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
Members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest late last week after serving a search warrant at a home located on Raleigh Road.
Rufus Kenneth Williams, 51, was charged with one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and felonious possession of cocaine, according to a press statement issued Tuesday afternoon by Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.
Brame stated that a search warrant was issued for 3777 Raleigh Rd. as part of an ongoing investigation into citizen complaints of illegal drug sales occurring at the residence.
Upon service of the warrant, and a brief foot pursuit of the suspect who was later taken into custody, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office located and seized cocaine and other assorted paraphernalia related to the sell, possession, and use of illegal narcotics.
Williams was given a $54,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Aug. 28
Local Man Faces Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
A Henderson man faces drug charges following a traffic stop conducted by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit in mid-August.
According to a press statement issued late Tuesday afternoon by Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame, a vehicle driven by Devon Rhodes was stopped and officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle’s interior.
During the search an amount of heroin, cocaine, cocaine base “crack” and marijuana was located and seized.
Rhodes was arrested and charged with one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin and cocaine, as well as a felony charge of maintaining a motor vehicle to transport a controlled substance. He also was charged with two misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
He was released after securing a bond set in the amount of $20,000.
Maria Parham Health Schedules Free Prostate Screening Event Sept. 14
/by WIZS StaffMaria Parham Health has scheduled its annual free prostate screening for Thursday, Sept. 14.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and Maria Parham is offering the screening event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at its Henderson location on Ruin Creek Road
The American Cancer Society recommends that all men 50 and older should be screened annually – those in high-risk groups including African American men and males with a family history of prostate cancer should start at age 45.
No appointment is needed.
Visit https://www.mariaparham.com/ or call 252.436.1656 to learn more.
TownTalk: ACTS To Hold Concert At McGregor Hall
/by Laura GabelThe third concert to benefit ACTS – Area Christians Together in Service – will take place at McGregor Hall on Saturday, Sept. 16. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. ACTS Executive Director Lee Anne Peoples invites the community to come out and enjoy the music – it’s for a good cause.
Tickets are $5 to attend the “Make A Joyful Noise Unto The Lord” benefit concert, Peoples said. Children 12 and under get in free.
Tracy Dalton is cook and kitchen manager for the food bank and meal ministry that operates on William Street, and she’s just one of the featured acts on the program. ACTS volunteer and vocalist Evelyn Couch will perform as well. And Peoples said there is plenty of room on the program for additional individuals and groups to join in.
“The money goes into our general operating fund,” Peoples explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk. In addition to the cost of the food itself, there are the indirect costs associated with the Monday-Friday hot meal distribution that takes place from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.
On a normal day, she said more than 200 folks come by to pick up plates. Add the 40 or so mobile meals that go out and the daily number of meals served can easily be between 250 and 275.
Those associated costs include things like paper products needed to package the meals, as well as utility bills, she noted. “There’s a lot of dishes to wash up” after preparing all that food, she said.
“Everything has really gone up,” Peoples said, referring to increased prices for everything that goes into providing the hot meals and food boxes for households.
What else has gone up?
The need in the community.
“We have seen an increased need,” she said. ACTS served close to 50,000 meals in 2022, and that number is not going down.
The first concert was held in 2018, and Peoples said this year’s event is sure to please.
There are sponsorship levels available for the concert. Sponsor names will appear in the glossy, full-color program that will be available at the concert. Platinum level is a full-page ad for $1,000; Gold level is a half page for $500; and Silver level is a business card size for $250.
It probably comes as no surprise that the food pantry shelves could use some more items, too.
“We’re really low in the pantry now,” Peoples said.
Donations of shelf-stable food can be made any time between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, although it would be wonderful to avoid the 11 a.m. to noontime hour when they’re serving meals, Peoples said.
There is a list of useful items on the ACTS of Henderson Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ACTSofHenderson/
Any type of canned meat, vegetable or fruit would be a big help – but they have ample green beans, green peas and corn at this time.
Mail monetary donations to: ACTS of Vance County, Inc.
P.O. Box 25
Henderson, NC 27536
Learn more about how to help ACTS through donations or by volunteering by contacting Peoples at lapeoples@actsofhenderson.org.
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