-information courtesy of Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Anglers are taking to Kerr Lake beginning today to take part in the final tournament of the season as the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine sets sail for a three-day run.
Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority and presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions, the tournament features the top 45 boaters and co-anglers – plus tournament winners from all four divisions – who will be battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, according to information from the local tourism office.
Additional prizes include a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“This regional tournament is going to be a good one to follow, because I think MLF is hitting at just the right time,” said local pro Derik Hudson of Concord, VA who has eight top-10 finishes on Kerr Lake – including a victory in last year’s 2023 BFL Super-Tournament. “This past weekend the water temperatures was still very high – 77 to 79 degrees. But we’re at that time of the year where the fall transition is coming soon. I think in this one the fish are going to be spread out – shallow and deep – and guys are going to be able to catch them fishing their strengths.”
Hudson said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a large role in this tournament, but he does think that an angler can compete to win strictly by fishing shallow.
“There is a ton of shad in the lake right now, and out deep those fish are going to be keyed in on the shad,” Hudson said. “The majority of fish seem to still be out offshore, but lately it seems like the bigger fish are moving shallow and being caught on transition banks, stumpy points and on rock. That’s what makes this one so interesting – they’re going to hit it right in the middle of the fall transition and it’s still really anybody’s ballgame.”
When Hudson won the BFL Super Tournament on Kerr Lake last year, he weighed in limits totaling 16- and 15- pounds and his 31-pound total won by nearly a 5-pound margin. He expects weights to be down a little bit in this regional tournament due to the fall transition.
“I feel like if you catch 13 to 14 pounds a day, you’re going to be sitting really good,” Hudson went on to say. “But, like we just saw this last weekend in the Super Tournament, if you get on that right roll offshore or on the bank, the lake has 18 or 19 right around the corner. So, I would say to shoot to stay right in the middle. If you shoot for 15 a day, that’ll be a great day for anybody. But know that 18 to 19 (pounds) is still out there somewhere.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Nutbush Bridge Access at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, located at 115 Jack Wade Farm Road, in Henderson, North Carolina. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5 on social media.
VCS September Student Spotlight
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools recognizes two students for the September Student Spotlight.
Rylee Williams, a student at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy and Nicola Thompson from Vance County Early College have been honored for their exceptional contributions and leadership within their school communities, according to information from VCS Aarika Sandlin.
The Student Spotlight program is sponsored by Vance County Schools, in partnership with the Vance County Public School Foundation, and highlights students who go above and beyond. These remarkable students embody qualities inclusive of kindness, dedication, and a strong commitment to personal growth and service to others.
Rylee Williams
Rylee Williams, a 4th– grader at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, was nominated by her principal, Dr. Carnetta Thomas, who praised Rylee for her integrity, resilience and empathy.
“Rylee demonstrates excellent communication skills and can inspire and motivate others. Her adaptability and eagerness to learn allow her to take on challenges, such as teaching herself Korean,” Thomas said.
Rylee’s favorite subject is writing, where she focuses on improving both her writing skills and handwriting. She is also a member of the school’s Art Club.
Outside of school, her favorite hobbies are skateboarding and drawing. She enjoys listening to music by Jvke and is a fan of the movie Inside Out 2, finding the character Anxiety particularly relatable.
Looking to the future, Rylee is passionate about helping others—whether it is people or animals. She is considering becoming a veterinarian or pursuing a career in the medical field. When asked who she admires most, Rylee did not hesitate to name her mom as her role model, saying her mom supports her even when she makes mistakes. Her advice to other students is simple yet profound: “Have a positive attitude and be kind to others.”
Rylee loves coming to E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy because she is constantly learning new things. She describes the school as a wonderful place filled with loving and supportive teachers and staff, especially highlighting Dr. Thomas as joyful and kind. If given a superpower, Rylee would love to be invisible, fly, or even see ghosts. She dreams of traveling to Japan, South Korea, and Brazil one day.
Nicola Thompson
Nicola Thompson is the 2024-2025 Student Spotlight at Vance County Early College. Nominated by her English Language Arts teacher, Shanice White, Nicola has been recognized for her remarkable ability to adapt to a new school and community while maintaining academic excellence.
“Her diverse achievements not only showcase her exceptional commitment and versatility both in and out of the classroom, but also reflect her graceful, kind, and helpful nature, which has allowed her to build strong and meaningful friendships and become a positive role model within our school community.”
Nicola is a well-rounded student involved in numerous clubs and activities, including the BETA Club, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Math and Psychology Club, and Quiz Bowl. Her favorite subjects are Chemistry and Biology, but her true passion lies in math, as she aspires to become an engineer.
Beyond academics, Nicola actively volunteers at the Aycock Recreation Center and participates in AAU Basketball. As a dedicated student-athlete, she excels in both soccer and basketball while making significant contributions through community service. She greatly admires her father, Errol Thompson, who has taught her everything she knows about sports.
If she could choose any superpower, Nicola would want to be the Thinker from DC Comics, allowing her to know everything and develop solutions to global challenges, such as addressing climate change. She shares, “My favorite thing about being a student at VCEC is being focused at school, which gives me more time outside of school. Time management has been instilled in me, allowing me the freedom to enjoy the campus.”
These students are exemplary representatives of Vance County Schools and the Student Spotlight program. They embody the values of kindness, dedication, and a commitment to learning, serving as an inspiration to their peers and a source of pride for their school communities and the district as a whole.
Vance Commissioner Sean Alston Named To Statewide Commissioners’ Committee
/by WIZS StaffVance County Commissioner Sean Alston has been appointed to the 2024-26 N.C. Association of Commissioners Legislative Goals Committee.
Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry said Alston is poised to make significant contributions to the committee’s efforts to promote policies that enhance the well-being of all residents in Vance County and throughout the state.
“I am honored to be appointed to the Legislative Goals Committee,” Alston said. “This is an incredible opportunity to advocate for our community’s needs and ensure our voices are heard in the legislative process. I look forward to working alongside fellow committee members to develop strategies that address critical issues facing our county.”
The Legislative Goals Committee reviews steering committee recommendations as a package — ensuring alignment and checking for conflict across subject areas. The goal of this committee is to reach a consensus on a package of goals and policy statements that will be presented to the NCACC Board of Directors and ultimately placed before the entire membership at the 2024 Legislative Goals Conference in mid-November 2024.
Alston also serves on the following boards and committees:
Appointed by Board of Commissioners
Appointed by Said Committee or Other Entity
Troxler: Western NC Livestock Owners Need Fencing Supplies, Feed
/by WIZS StaffAs supplies for people make their way to western North Carolina following last week’s devastation by Hurricane Helene, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler issued an urgent plea for donations of fencing supplies to assist livestock owners as they attempt to secure cows, horses and other animals in their care.
“We have seen time and time again our agriculture community support one another in times of need, and this is no different,” Troxler said in a press statement released Thursday.
Hay – especially square bales – and other livestock feed are needed, in addition to the fencing supplies. Area extension agents are good sources of information if you have questions about how to help. Granville County Livestock Extension Agent Kim Woods provided information that includes a direct link to the Disaster Hay and Livestock Assistance Portal. Visit https://go.ncsu.edu/livestockdisasterhelp, note whether you need help or want to offer help. To donate, click on the ‘Want to Help’ button, which will ask for a bit of information and items you have to donate.
“We are seeing an outpouring of support with hay, animal feed, fencing and other supplies that are going out to those needing these resources. In the days ahead, we know we are going to need even more fencing supplies, especially solar fence chargers to help livestock producers. If you have resources to donate, please go to our website to let us know.”
Various donation collection sites have been set up in and around Western North Carolina. For a list of these sites that are being continuously updated, go to: https://www.ncagr.gov/emergency-programs/disaster-information/agsupplydonation
At the present time, here is a list of items being accepted at these locations:
Corn Silage
Grain mix or pellets for cattle
Round and square hay bales
Baleage/Haylage
Mineral Supplements
Fence Supplies
Feed tubs/troughs
Water troughs
Basic animal supplies
TownTalk: MHCO Homecoming Oct. 11-13
/by WIZS StaffThe Masonic Home for Children at Oxford has been in the business of caring for children for more than 150 years. Coming off last year’s sesquicentennial celebration, MHCO Administrator said Year 151 shines just as brightly as last year.
“It’s been an incredible journey and it’s just getting started,” Otis said on Thursday’s TownTalk.
Alumni, Shriners, pit masters and more will converge on the historic campus next weekend for the annual Homecoming, which runs Oct. 11-13.
“This whole event is (a way) for the home to say ‘thank you’,” Otis said. Thank you to the community, thank you to alumni, Shriners and all the people who support the mission of the home.
Things kick off on Friday, Oct. 11 about 5 p.m. when the barbecue team get organized for the next day’s featured food. One team travels from Delaware each year to support MHCO, Otis said.
The community is invited to come out and mingle and then stay to hear music by Brightest Light, which takes the stage about 6 p.m.
Come back early the next day, Otis said, because everything kicks off about 10 a.m. There will be amusement rides for the kids – free of charge – and then the anticipated parade begins at 11 a.m.
This year’s parade route is different, so anyone who wants to watch needs to park on the MHCO campus and find a space along the main campus drive area – the parade will NOT take place on College Street, he noted.
He encourages parade watchers to bring a chair. There will be parking attendants and golf cart shuttles for those who need a ride from their cars to the middle of campus.
The barbecue pit opens at the conclusion of the parade and folks can sample meats and sides from the teams who’ve been cooking and preparing for hours.
“You give us a donation, we’ll give you a plate,” Otis explained.
Other activities include tours through the museum galleries at Cobb Center and one of the residential cottages, too. Cory Luetjen & the Traveling Blues Band performs in the afternoon and the day’s activities will conclude about 3 p.m.
There are so many things to see and experience during the course of the weekend’s activities, which Otis said is the result of a lot of work and preparation from staff and residents alike.
“Having the kids involved is an experience for them,” he said. They can enjoy all the fun of the weekend, but they can also take pride that they helped get things ready.
Just like the Shriners Hospital, the children’s home provides care for children without asking families to pay for anything, Otis explained.
Donations of any kind – from school supplies and money to fund a weekend excursion to remembering MHCO in your estate – Otis said it’s all put to good use to help provide children with the tools they need to be successful – in school, in their career and in life.
Otis said he’s always interested in hearing from married couples who think they want to be cottage parents.
Visit https://mhc-oxford.org/ to learn more.
The Local Skinny! Vacant County Director Roles Now Filled
/by WIZS StaffBack in February, Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry was just a few months into her new job. On top of gearing up to prepare the county’s annual budget and getting up to speed on some of the unique challenges and opportunities across the county she was now responsible for, Perry also faced having to fill a good handful of county positions, including five directors of departments.
Perry turned a negative into a positive at the time, and said back in February that she chose to see the vacancies as a chance for her to build her own leadership team.
When Vance County announced Tuesday that it had selected a new Social Services Director, that “team” is officially complete.
Sandy Weaver began her new role as DSS director effective Oct. 1, as did Jeremy T. Jones as assistanc county manager.
And Perry won’t celebrate her first anniversary as county manager until Nov. 1.
One by one, the vacancies have been filled:
· Budget and Finance director – Stephanie Williams;
· Animal Services manager – William Coker;
· Planning director – Sherry Moss;
· Elections director- Haley Rawles;
· Economic Development director – Ferdinand A. Rouse;
· DSS director – Sandy Weaver
· Chief Code Enforcement Officer – Bob Rosch
The code enforcement office is located in the same office as planning, but it will function as a separate department with Rosch as the department head, county staff noted.
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 10-03-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Anglers Hit Kerr Lake Thursday For 3-Day Tournament In Hopes Of Landing $60K Grand Prize
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Anglers are taking to Kerr Lake beginning today to take part in the final tournament of the season as the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine sets sail for a three-day run.
Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority and presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions, the tournament features the top 45 boaters and co-anglers – plus tournament winners from all four divisions – who will be battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, according to information from the local tourism office.
Additional prizes include a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“This regional tournament is going to be a good one to follow, because I think MLF is hitting at just the right time,” said local pro Derik Hudson of Concord, VA who has eight top-10 finishes on Kerr Lake – including a victory in last year’s 2023 BFL Super-Tournament. “This past weekend the water temperatures was still very high – 77 to 79 degrees. But we’re at that time of the year where the fall transition is coming soon. I think in this one the fish are going to be spread out – shallow and deep – and guys are going to be able to catch them fishing their strengths.”
Hudson said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a large role in this tournament, but he does think that an angler can compete to win strictly by fishing shallow.
“There is a ton of shad in the lake right now, and out deep those fish are going to be keyed in on the shad,” Hudson said. “The majority of fish seem to still be out offshore, but lately it seems like the bigger fish are moving shallow and being caught on transition banks, stumpy points and on rock. That’s what makes this one so interesting – they’re going to hit it right in the middle of the fall transition and it’s still really anybody’s ballgame.”
When Hudson won the BFL Super Tournament on Kerr Lake last year, he weighed in limits totaling 16- and 15- pounds and his 31-pound total won by nearly a 5-pound margin. He expects weights to be down a little bit in this regional tournament due to the fall transition.
“I feel like if you catch 13 to 14 pounds a day, you’re going to be sitting really good,” Hudson went on to say. “But, like we just saw this last weekend in the Super Tournament, if you get on that right roll offshore or on the bank, the lake has 18 or 19 right around the corner. So, I would say to shoot to stay right in the middle. If you shoot for 15 a day, that’ll be a great day for anybody. But know that 18 to 19 (pounds) is still out there somewhere.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Nutbush Bridge Access at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, located at 115 Jack Wade Farm Road, in Henderson, North Carolina. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5 on social media.
SportsTalk: Vipers Take An Unexpected Week Off
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th
The Vipers of Vance County are having a good football season so far as we are officially over halfway through the 2024 campaign. Head Coach Aaron Elliott joins SportsTalk on WIZS to talk all about it.
Coach Elliott first off gave us his thoughts on the 38-33 wins against Louisburg. “A couple of things that we liked and improved on was our offense. We were able to put together a pretty complete offensive game where we had 500 total yards of offense and five touchdowns so we had a really good game offensively. Some things that we didn’t like we gave up some big plays on defense. That just came down to missed assignments.” The Vipers had three different rushers go over for 100 yards in the game against the Warriors. Javion Vines-Holder and Antoine Doyle Jr with 117 yards each, while Jontavious Nile with 171 yards for the night. Nile is now Top-30 in the state of North Carolina in rushing with over 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. “We knew he was going to be a workload for us and he’s really done a great job for us.”
With no game this week, Coach Elliott will turn into a scout as he will head to Creedmoor as South Granville hosts Southern Durham in a Northern Lakes Conference matchup. “I plan on being there that way we can do a little scouting on South Granville and actually cheer for them a little bit.” The Viper’s next game is at South Granville, on October 11th.
The game between Vance County and East Rutherford has been canceled this week due to Hurricane Helene impacting the western part of the state where East Rutherford would be coming from. Vance County was supposed to have a Hurricane Relief Rally during the game on Saturday, but Coach Elliott says that if anyone wants to bring their supplies for donation, they can bring their supplies to Vance County High School anytime during the week and the weeks ahead. Vance County High School is located at 925 Garrett Road here in Henderson.
Even though the game has been canceled for this Saturday, there is still football in Vance County this week at least. The Vance County JV Vipers host Wake Prep and their JV squad tonight here in Henderson. Coach Elliott gives us his insight on what impresses his JV Team the most this season. “I like to go watch and play… it’s how aggressive they are on plays. How they get after the ball on defense, they’re flying around making plays, they tackle well. And I always think about that because you know the JV is your future. The JV, they’re good you know, they’re winning the conference right now so we’re pretty excited for them.”
Coach Elliott’s message for the fans coming to the JV game tonight is to, “Just come out and support. Although the Varsity game was canceled, it gives us some way to come together and watch a little football, especially this week.”
We are right behind you Coach! Go Vipers!
The next time Vance County will take the field is when they travel to Creedmoor to take on South Granville for Week 8 of the 2024 season on Friday, October 11th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff thereafter at 7:00 p.m.
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Warren County Drop-Off Locations For Hurricane Relief
/by WIZS StaffWarren County residents have a number of dropoff locations to donate supplies that will be delivered to flood-ravaged areas of western North Carolina.
Monetary donations will go toward providing essential supplies such as food, water and medical supplies to those affected – even the smallest donations can have a significant difference to those impacted by this devasting storm.
A shipment is scheduled to head west on Friday, but there’s still time to donate.
Take contributions to any of the following locations:
Donations can be dropped off at any volunteer fire department at the below locations:
NOT accepted at this time are donations of clothing, perishable foods and chemicals.
Following is a list of needed items:
For additional information regarding donations of supplies, contact Mike Coffman at mcoffman@caststonesystems.com .
Make checks payable to Carolina Loggers Foundation, PO Box 785, Henderson, NC 27536. Credit card payments can be made by Venmo to: @carolina-loggers-foundation (For information regarding monetary donations, please contact Jonzi Guill at jguill@ncloggers.com or via phone at 252.809-3057.
Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Rewriting the Narratives, Episode 5
/by WIZS StaffCooperative Extension
Listen 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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