— UPDATE 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 25
One candidate for the Ward 3 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council has withdrawn from the race and one of the five mayoral candidates faces a challenge that calls into question his eligibility.
Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan confirmed Tuesday that Daniel Blasky has withdrawn his name from consideration in the nonpartisan municipal elections set for Oct. 10.
Vance County GOP chairman Jimmy Barrier issued a statement to WIZS News, which read in part: ” After much consideration, Daniel Blasky has decided to withdraw his name from the ballot for Ward 3 At-Large seat on the Henderson City Council to support Michelle Wood in her campaign for that seat. They are friends and have come together to work for the common good.”
Wallace Cheek’s candidacy has been challenged, Vaughan said, adding that this challenge will be heard on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Board of Elections conference before the regularly scheduled board meeting.
Vaughan said Cheek’s residency is in question. At the hearing, Cheek will have to prove that he lives at the address he listed when he filed to run for mayor.
The Aug. 1 hearing is open to the public.
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— UPDATE 3 p.m., Friday, July 21
With the filing period now ended for the upcoming municipal elections in Henderson, the stage is set for possible sweeping changes in the makeup of city leadership. Only one incumbent filed for re-election for his seat on the council; three current council members have filed to run for mayor.
The filing period ended at 12 noon Friday and Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, who provided daily updates to WIZS each afternoon during the two-week filing period, said all candidates are eligible to run for the offices for which they filed.
Henderson voters will choose from among five candidates for mayor. Current Mayor Eddie Ellington announced last week that he would not seek a third term.
The candidates for mayor are:
Wallace Cheek
Sara Coffey
Melissa Elliott
Greg Etheridge
Jason Spriggs
Coffey, Elliott and Spriggs currently sit on the Henderson City Council; only Coffey would be eligible to retain her spot on the council, since she is not up for re-election this year.
Incumbent Mike Rainey filed Thursday, July 20 for re-election to Ward 2. Rainey faces opposition from Sam Seifert and Janice Ward.
Ward 1 has a four-way race, with candidates Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson vying for the seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams. Williams did not file for re-election.
There are now four candidates for the Ward 3 at-large seat and three candidates for the Ward 4 at-large seat.
Kory H. Franklin filed Friday to run for the Ward 3 at-large seat, joining Daniel Blasky, Michael Venable and Michelle Horner Wood; Melissa Elliott is the current council member for that seat.
Former City Council member George M. Daye is seeking to return to the council, filing Friday for the seat he previously held in Ward 4. The two-term council member joins Lora Durham, and Tami Walker, who previously had filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat. The Ward 4 at-large seat is currently held by Jason Spriggs. Wallace Evans withdrew his name for consideration on Friday, Vaughan said.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is Oct. 10; early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
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(PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHAT’S BELOW IS A RUNNING ACCOUNT AND NOT THE FINAL STORY. THE FINAL STORY IS ABOVE.)
— UPDATE 5 p.m., Thursday, July 20
The filing period will end at 12 noon Friday, and presently at least a three-way race exists for each seat available, including a five-way race for mayor and a four-way race for the ward 1 ward seat.
Two additional people filed Thursday, and both filed for the Ward 2 seat. Incumbent Mike Rainey filed, and Sam Seifert filed. So far, Rainey is the only incumbent to file for re-election, in terms of filing for his/her existing seat.
Three sitting council members have filed to run for mayor, and Mayor Eddie Ellington has said he will not seek a third term.
Ward 1 incumbent Marion Williams has not filed to run. While Williams has made no official statement to WIZS nor any statement to local media that WIZS News is aware of, the number of filers from her ward and the public general consensus indicate she will not file.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is October 10. Early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
At present, the following races exist:
Filings for Mayor
Wallace Cheek
Sara Coffey
Melissa Elliott
Greg Etheridge
Jason Spriggs
Ward 1
Geraldine Champion
Symia Crews
Clementine Hunter
Corey Pearson
Ward 2
Mike Rainey (Incumbent)
Sam Seifert
Janice Ward
Ward 3 At Large
Daniel Blasky
Michael Venable
Michelle Horner Wood
Ward 4 At Large
Lora Durham
Wallace Evans
Tami Walker
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 19
A fourth candidate filed Wednesday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson City Council, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Symia Crews added her name to the list for the Ward 1 seat.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 18
The field is getting a bit more crowded for a couple of Henderson City Council seats, as three more candidates filed Tuesday, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Wallace Evans and Tami Walker filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, currently held by Jason Spriggs. Corey Pearson filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
That brings to three candidates each for the Ward 1 seat, and the at-large seats in Wards 3 and 4.
Janice Ward is the sole candidate thus far in the Ward 2 race.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Monday, July 17
According to information Monday afternoon from Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Wallace Cheek has filed for the second time to run for mayor of Henderson. This brings to five the number of candidates vying for the office of mayor.
Two others have filed for seats on the Henderson City Council – Michelle Horner Wood filed for the Ward 3 at-large seat and Lora Durham filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, Vaughan reported Monday.
Susan Pulley filed Monday for commissioner for the town of Kittrell; Robert B. Tunstall filed Friday, July 14 for commissioner for the town of Kittrell.
The filing period for the upcoming municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 7 p.m., Thursday, July 13
There is now a four-way race for mayor of Henderson following Jason Spriggs’s filing today. Spriggs currently holds the Ward 4 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council.
Clementine Hunter also filed Thursday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson council, according to Melody Vaughan, director of the Vance County Board of Elections. Geraldine Champion had already filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
The Ward 3 at-large seat is also a contested race, with both Daniel Blasky and Michael Venable candidates who have filed to run. This seat currently is being held by Melissa Elliott, who is one of the mayoral candidates. Sara Coffey is the other council member who has announced her candidacy for mayor. Coffey is the only one of the three council members who could retain her seat on the council since her term is not ending.
Gregory Etheridge filed Wednesday to run for mayor. Etheridge is president of Gupton Services.
The Ward 4 at-large seat remains without a filer at this time, since Spriggs put his hat into the ring with his filing Thursday.
Janice Ward filed for the Ward 2 seat, currently held by Mike Rainey.
The filing period continues through 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
The municipal election is Oct. 10 and there will be an early voting period, but the early voting polling sites have not been determined at this time, Vaughan said.
Hazel Baskett has filed for a seat on the Middleburg Town Council.
Mary Jo Floyd has filed to run for Kittrell town commissioner.
Wallace Cheek had filed to run for mayor of Henderson, but state elections officials removed his name late Tuesday after it was confirmed he does not live within the Henderson city limits.
Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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Red Cross Issues Reminders To Stay Safe When It’s HOT Outside
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of The American Red Cross
There’s no doubt – the next few days are going to be scorchers, with only the chance of a stray rain shower to cool things off.
Weather forecasters are predicting Saturday’s high in the area to approach 100, and the American Red Cross has issued a list of heat safety tips to keep in mind as the summer heatwave continues.
HEAT SAFETY TIPS
Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about four ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.
If someone is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness and exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 911.
HEAT STROKE LIFE-THREATENING Heat stroke usually occurs by ignoring the signals of heat exhaustion. Heat stroke develops when the body systems are overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning. Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting and high body temperature. Call 911 immediately if someone shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.
WHO’S AT RISK? Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S. More than 600 people in this country die every year from heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some people are more at risk of developing a heat-related illness, including adults over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who work outside, infants and children, and athletes. Some may take medications that make the effects of extreme heat worse. People with heart disease, poor blood circulation, obesity and mental illness are also at risk for getting sick if the temperatures climb.
DOWNLOAD RED CROSS APPS Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
Camp For Teens Interested In Law, Forensic Science
/by WIZS StaffLocal teens have an interesting opportunity to develop their sleuthing skills next week during a five-day camp at a local church.
Rebuilding Communities, Inc. is sponsoring “CSI, The Law and Leadership Camp” for teens between the ages of 13-17 from July 31-Aug. 4 at First United Methodist Church in Henderson.
The camp will be held daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to information from Edy Thompson, Rebuilding Communities, Inc. director.
Teens interested in learning more about what lawyers, forensic scientists and investigators do should register by calling 252.479.5019.
Some of the activities for the week include investigating mock crime scenes, fingerprint analysis and first aid and CPR certification.
Oxford Voters Will Choose New Mayor, 3 City Commissioners In Nov. 7 Election
/by WIZS StaffThe city of Oxford will be voting for a new mayor in the upcoming municipal elections, and two newcomers to local politics will by vying for the position.
According to information from the Granville County Board of Elections, Guillermo Antonio Nurse and Deborah Jeffcoat Ramsey have filed to run for mayor. Incumbent Jackie Sergent had announced earlier that she would not seek another term as mayor.
There are seven candidates running for three city commissioners’ seats, and Granville Elections Director Tonya Burnette said the top three vote getters will be elected. The candidates are listed below, in order of their filing dates:
Stuart W. Powell
John Tovey
Carlos J. Velez
Teresa S. Gilreath
Curtis McRae Jr.
Scotty Lyn Brooks
James W. Crawford Jr.
Tovey and Gilreath are running for re-election; Commissioner Ron Bullock did not file for re-election, Burnette said.
The Oxford municipal elections are Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Henderson Municipal Election 2023 Updates
/by WIZS Staff— UPDATE 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 25
One candidate for the Ward 3 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council has withdrawn from the race and one of the five mayoral candidates faces a challenge that calls into question his eligibility.
Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan confirmed Tuesday that Daniel Blasky has withdrawn his name from consideration in the nonpartisan municipal elections set for Oct. 10.
Vance County GOP chairman Jimmy Barrier issued a statement to WIZS News, which read in part: ” After much consideration, Daniel Blasky has decided to withdraw his name from the ballot for Ward 3 At-Large seat on the Henderson City Council to support Michelle Wood in her campaign for that seat. They are friends and have come together to work for the common good.”
Wallace Cheek’s candidacy has been challenged, Vaughan said, adding that this challenge will be heard on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Board of Elections conference before the regularly scheduled board meeting.
Vaughan said Cheek’s residency is in question. At the hearing, Cheek will have to prove that he lives at the address he listed when he filed to run for mayor.
The Aug. 1 hearing is open to the public.
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— UPDATE 3 p.m., Friday, July 21
With the filing period now ended for the upcoming municipal elections in Henderson, the stage is set for possible sweeping changes in the makeup of city leadership. Only one incumbent filed for re-election for his seat on the council; three current council members have filed to run for mayor.
The filing period ended at 12 noon Friday and Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, who provided daily updates to WIZS each afternoon during the two-week filing period, said all candidates are eligible to run for the offices for which they filed.
Henderson voters will choose from among five candidates for mayor. Current Mayor Eddie Ellington announced last week that he would not seek a third term.
The candidates for mayor are:
Wallace Cheek
Sara Coffey
Melissa Elliott
Greg Etheridge
Jason Spriggs
Coffey, Elliott and Spriggs currently sit on the Henderson City Council; only Coffey would be eligible to retain her spot on the council, since she is not up for re-election this year.
Incumbent Mike Rainey filed Thursday, July 20 for re-election to Ward 2. Rainey faces opposition from Sam Seifert and Janice Ward.
Ward 1 has a four-way race, with candidates Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson vying for the seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams. Williams did not file for re-election.
There are now four candidates for the Ward 3 at-large seat and three candidates for the Ward 4 at-large seat.
Kory H. Franklin filed Friday to run for the Ward 3 at-large seat, joining Daniel Blasky, Michael Venable and Michelle Horner Wood; Melissa Elliott is the current council member for that seat.
Former City Council member George M. Daye is seeking to return to the council, filing Friday for the seat he previously held in Ward 4. The two-term council member joins Lora Durham, and Tami Walker, who previously had filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat. The Ward 4 at-large seat is currently held by Jason Spriggs. Wallace Evans withdrew his name for consideration on Friday, Vaughan said.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is Oct. 10; early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
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(PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHAT’S BELOW IS A RUNNING ACCOUNT AND NOT THE FINAL STORY. THE FINAL STORY IS ABOVE.)
— UPDATE 5 p.m., Thursday, July 20
The filing period will end at 12 noon Friday, and presently at least a three-way race exists for each seat available, including a five-way race for mayor and a four-way race for the ward 1 ward seat.
Two additional people filed Thursday, and both filed for the Ward 2 seat. Incumbent Mike Rainey filed, and Sam Seifert filed. So far, Rainey is the only incumbent to file for re-election, in terms of filing for his/her existing seat.
Three sitting council members have filed to run for mayor, and Mayor Eddie Ellington has said he will not seek a third term.
Ward 1 incumbent Marion Williams has not filed to run. While Williams has made no official statement to WIZS nor any statement to local media that WIZS News is aware of, the number of filers from her ward and the public general consensus indicate she will not file.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is October 10. Early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
At present, the following races exist:
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 19
A fourth candidate filed Wednesday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson City Council, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Symia Crews added her name to the list for the Ward 1 seat.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 18
The field is getting a bit more crowded for a couple of Henderson City Council seats, as three more candidates filed Tuesday, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Wallace Evans and Tami Walker filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, currently held by Jason Spriggs. Corey Pearson filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
That brings to three candidates each for the Ward 1 seat, and the at-large seats in Wards 3 and 4.
Janice Ward is the sole candidate thus far in the Ward 2 race.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Monday, July 17
According to information Monday afternoon from Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Wallace Cheek has filed for the second time to run for mayor of Henderson. This brings to five the number of candidates vying for the office of mayor.
Two others have filed for seats on the Henderson City Council – Michelle Horner Wood filed for the Ward 3 at-large seat and Lora Durham filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, Vaughan reported Monday.
Susan Pulley filed Monday for commissioner for the town of Kittrell; Robert B. Tunstall filed Friday, July 14 for commissioner for the town of Kittrell.
The filing period for the upcoming municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 7 p.m., Thursday, July 13
There is now a four-way race for mayor of Henderson following Jason Spriggs’s filing today. Spriggs currently holds the Ward 4 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council.
Clementine Hunter also filed Thursday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson council, according to Melody Vaughan, director of the Vance County Board of Elections. Geraldine Champion had already filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
The Ward 3 at-large seat is also a contested race, with both Daniel Blasky and Michael Venable candidates who have filed to run. This seat currently is being held by Melissa Elliott, who is one of the mayoral candidates. Sara Coffey is the other council member who has announced her candidacy for mayor. Coffey is the only one of the three council members who could retain her seat on the council since her term is not ending.
Gregory Etheridge filed Wednesday to run for mayor. Etheridge is president of Gupton Services.
The Ward 4 at-large seat remains without a filer at this time, since Spriggs put his hat into the ring with his filing Thursday.
Janice Ward filed for the Ward 2 seat, currently held by Mike Rainey.
The filing period continues through 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
The municipal election is Oct. 10 and there will be an early voting period, but the early voting polling sites have not been determined at this time, Vaughan said.
Hazel Baskett has filed for a seat on the Middleburg Town Council.
Mary Jo Floyd has filed to run for Kittrell town commissioner.
Wallace Cheek had filed to run for mayor of Henderson, but state elections officials removed his name late Tuesday after it was confirmed he does not live within the Henderson city limits.
TownTalk: Legacy Keeps Gospel Music Tradition Alive
/by Laura GabelLike most things that stand the test of time, Gospel music performers have to evolve to stay current with today’s listeners, but not too much that they lose sight of their roots.
Legacy is a local group whose members are doing just that — Brenda Peace-Jones and Tonya Richards are original members of the quartet looking to the future as they remember the work of other family members that helped them get their start.
Legacy is having a concert to celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 12 at West Oxford Elementary School in Oxford. The concert is free and open to the whole community to enjoy,
The Henderson-based group will be joined by multiple other groups that will perform as well. The doors open at 3 p.m. and the concert begins at 4 p.m.
Betty Richards always wanted her children to sing, Peace-Jones said. And so they did. That was at least 50 years ago, however.
“As time went on,” she told WIZS co-host Bill Harris on TownTalk, “the Richards family was dying off.” She credits her nephew George with keeping the family’s music alive.
Gone are the days of big ol’ amps and microphones everywhere when musicians wanted to play and sing. Today’s young musicians have loads of technology at their fingertips to make things easier.
“I’m grateful for the younger people,” Peace-Jones said, adding that they know all about different platforms where music can be heard and enjoyed by others.
“The sound is refined through the electronics,” Richards said. “That’s a great way that technology has made a difference.”
When they were young, they were inspired by the likes of pop artists Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye, as well as Gospel legends like James Cleveland, Walter Hawkins and Milton Brunson.
Peace-Jones said as times change, and people change, the music can change, too. But it’s important to keep the music’s message Bible-based and positive “to make people feel good.”
The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library
/by Laura GabelCLICK PLAY!
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/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
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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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