SportsTalk: Vipers Ready for Season Opener

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UPDATE – FINAL SCORE 

Vance County 13 

Warren County 12 

RECAP MONDAY ON SPORTSTALK 

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Tonight’s County Line Clash pits the Vance County Vipers against neighboring county rival Warren County Eagles. It’s a non-conference game, but Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said his squad is ready to kick off the season in a big way.

“The energy these kids have, they’re ready for Week 1,” Elliott said.

Despite the fact that the Vipers and Eagles are in different conferences – the Vipers are a 6A and the Eagles are a 2A, Elliott said he expects the season opener to be competitive.

“I like it because it fires up the kids for Week 1 and gets them ready,” Elliott said on Thursday’s Sports Talk with WIZS’s Scout Hughes and George Hoyle. “We try to tell them to treat it as a normal game, but it’s hard to do,” Elliott said. The first game of the season against a rival, even though it’s a non-conference game, brings with it a lot of emotions and nerves, the head coach said.

“We’ve got to limit the mistakes, win the turnover battle,” Elliott said. If the Vipers can do that, “I really feel like we’ll be excited in the fourth quarter.”

Last season’s matchup was a close one – with the Vipers leading 7-0 at the half. The Vipers pulled away in the fourth quarter to finish out with an 18-0 win.

Warren County’s team is young, but they’re a seasoned group that’s seen some good playing time.

Elliott said he’s counting on Warren County to bring their best effort to Viper Stadium for the 7 p.m. kickoff. “They’re ready to play football. They’re going to test us a little bit.”

Elliott said he got a chance to see them in action at the recent Jamboree in Louisburg, noting that they’re a “typical Warren County team – well coached, giving 100 percent on every play, with plenty of energy and effort.”

But Elliott said the Vipers are up for the challenge. With Senior Marcus Thomas at quarterback and Aiden Foster, the team’s “Swiss Army knife,” showing up on defense and offense, he said this team is going to be fun to watch.

And then there’s the depth at running back – there are five or six guys at that position, none of them seniors, Elliott noted.

Aiden Labra is back this season to add to the kicking game. Labra gets his kicks in on the football field, then heads over to soccer practice. Elliott said the Viper kicker got a personal best on Wednesday with a 47-yard field goal.

“We practice special teams every single day,” Elliott said. “If you want to be good at it, you’ve got to practice.”

The team starts out each practice with special teams, when they’re fresh, so they’ll be ready at the end of the game. “We’ve got to do everything right when we’re tired too,” he said.

Elliott and his coaching staff installed a new defense that he hopes will work well for this year’s team.

“The kids love it,” he said. “It allows them to fly around and make plays…we’re interested to see how that plays out and works for us.”

There are 14 seniors on the varsity roster, and Elliott said this season’s Vipers team includes a dozen players from the Early College, one from Vance Virtual Academy and a couple of homeschooled students.

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TownTalk: Henderson City Council Special Called Meeting Friday, Aug. 22 At 3 PM

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UPDATE: Friday, Aug. 22 at 5:03 p.m.

The Henderson City Council voted 6-2 to allow City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry to continue in his role through Dec. 31.

Kingsberry requested that the Council rescind his resignation so he can attend a program at the UNC School of Government. Kingsberry tendered his resignation at the regular monthly meeting of the City Council on Monday, Aug. 11 and shortly thereafter learned that he had been accepted into the program offered by the UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill.

Council Member Sara Coffey made a motion, seconded by Council Member Lamont Noel. Council members Geraldine Champion and Michael Venable voted against the motion.

The cost of the program is $4,500 and will be paid by the city.

“Keep me on so I can attend this training,” Kingsberry said in comments to the council.

Venable said he objected to spending money for Kingsberry to attend the program, knowing that he would be leaving the position.

In making the motion, Coffey said, “We need a manager and we need an attorney.”

Council Member Garry Daeke apologized to his fellow Council members for leaving a closed session Monday – during the first called meeting of the week – and not returning to the open session.

“I should have,” Daeke said in brief remarks at the beginning of the meeting. “I sincerely regret that I didn’t finish my duties,” he said.

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— from Henderson City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell

The Henderson City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Friday, Aug. 22, to hold a closed session pursuant to pursuant to NCGS § 143-318.11 (a)(6) regarding a Personnel Matter and G.S. § 143-318.11 (a)(3) Attorney-Client Privilege.  Also discussed will be THE consideration of Mayor Pro Tem position, an update on all law firms conducting investigations for the City of Henderson, and the City Manager’s participation in  the UNC School of Government Municipal and County Administration Program.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at City Hall in City Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave.  The public is welcome.

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The Local Skinny! Boot Drive Aug. 29 To Support Steve Falkner Family

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The Henderson Fire Department is having a special boot drive Friday, Aug. 29 to show support for a longtime member of the city’s firefighter family.

Steve Falkner has been with the department for more than 40 years, and Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said this boot drive was organized to help Falkner’s infant grandson, who has spent most of his short life at Duke University Hospital with complications from congenital heart defects.

“We’re going to collect funds to show them some love and support,” Twisdale said on Thursday’s TownTalk. The boot drive will take place in front of Station 1 on Dabney Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Twisdale, the little fellow has been hospitalized “pretty much every day since he’s been born.”

His parents are both schoolteachers and live in Lake Waccamaw, in Columbus County.

“They’re public servants, just like Steve,” Twisdale said, and he said the boot drive is one way to show their support as the family goes through this tough time.

“That’s what we’re here for – to try to help everyone in the community…we try to be available for everyone,” Twisdale said.

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VCSO Maj. William Mitchell Named Director Of State Sheriffs’ Training And Standards Division At N.C. Dept. Of Justice

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N.C. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Wednesday that Major William L. Mitchell will serve as the new director of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Training and Standards Division at the Department of Justice. He replaces interim Director Robin Pendergraft, who took on the role after Richard Squires retired earlier this year.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame told WIZS News Wednesday afternoon that he wishes Mitchell well in his new position.

“He will be missed. He was a valuable employee to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,” Brame said. His departure will be felt at the sheriff’s office, Brame continued.

“It’s going to be an impact on us,” Brame said, “until we can get somebody in place who’s capable and competent to do what he did. He was an asset to this office.”

The Sheriffs’ Training and Standards Division staffs the Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission, which was established in 1983 and is responsible for the certification of all justice officers, including deputy sheriffs, detention officers, and telecommunicators employed in the North Carolina’s 100 sheriffs’ offices.

“Major Mitchell’s decades of service to the people of North Carolina are a testament to his character and his integrity,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “I’m thrilled that he is taking the helm of the Sheriffs’ Standards Division and leading our work with all 100 sheriffs in North Carolina. His law enforcement experience will help us do everything we can to have the best-trained, most committed public servants in law enforcement.”

“I have been privileged to work alongside some of the best officers and deputies the state of North Carolina has ever produced,” said Major William Mitchell. “As director of the Sheriffs’ Standards Division, I’ll continue to follow the rule that has guided me throughout my law enforcement career: take care, be safe, and look after one another.”

“Major Mitchell is a lifelong public servant whose experiences on the job will inform the work of the Sheriffs’ Commission to ensure our deputies and officers live up to the highest standards of the profession,” said Sheriff Alan Norman, Chair of the Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission. “I congratulate him on the appointment and look forward to working with him.”

Major Mitchell is a Johnston County native who has served in law enforcement for 33 years. He received a degree in criminal justice from Wake Technical Community College and completed basic law enforcement training in 1991. From 1992 to 1994, he served with the Youngsville Police Department. He then served with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office until 2014, where he rose through the ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant over the Narcotics Division, Supervisor in Charge of Multi-Agency Narcotics Units, and then Captain of the Uniform Patrol Division. He began serving with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, initially with the Criminal Investigations Division, then as Sergeant over the Narcotics Unit and then Major of Operations.

Off duty, Major Mitchell also obtained his private investigators license in 2014 and investigates homicide cases for Indigent Defense Services in Raleigh. He is a deacon with the Louisburg Baptist Church and a volunteer with the Louisburg Fire Department.

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Sheriff: Two Arrested On Drug Charges; Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana Seized

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— From the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Unit, the SBI and the Henderson Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 20 Brookhaven Place Henderson, NC 27536 after an investigation into heroin trafficking at the residence. Investigators located and seized trafficking amounts of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, two firearms one which was reported stolen, U.S. currency and other items of drug manufacturing equipment from the residence. Nigel Torres, 24 and Damien Alston, 24, were arrested and charged with trafficking heroin (x2), possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for selling controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bond allowed for Torres due to being out on pending charges as well as on active probation. Alston was given a secured bond of $450,000 pending a court hearing in Vance County court.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Managing Parenthood pt.1

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We revisit the whole parenting dynamic and discuss how our actions impact our children.

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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Maria Parham Health Emergency Department Renovation Complete

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— information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer

Maria Parham Health has received a Certificate of Occupancy for its Emergency Department renovation on the Henderson campus, marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality care—especially for patients facing behavioral health challenges in Vance and Franklin counties.

Construction on the renovation began Mar. 17, 2025. The project was designed to better serve vulnerable populations in the region, with particular emphasis on creating dedicated spaces within the Emergency Department to meet the growing need for behavioral and mental health services.

“These renovations reflect our unwavering commitment to improving the way we care for every patient who walks through our doors—especially those navigating mental and behavioral health issues,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the community support and funding that made this project possible, and we look forward to opening these new spaces to better serve our neighbors.”

Key improvements include the creation of dedicated, purpose-built areas within the Emergency Department that promote safety, privacy, and dignity for behavioral health patients. The enhancements are also expected to boost operational efficiency and support staff well-being.

To ensure continuous care during construction, temporary modifications were made to the hospital’s main lobby, which have served as a substitute intake, registration, and emergency care area for patients arriving via personal vehicle. These temporary areas have allowed for uninterrupted triage, waiting, and registration services throughout the renovation period.

With the Certificate of Occupancy now in hand, hospital staff began final preparations on Aug. 20 to bring the renovated Emergency Department online. The space opened to patients at 11 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2025.

The project was made possible by funding secured in October 2023 through a collaborative initiative involving the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina General Assembly. The investment demonstrates a shared regional commitment to strengthening mental health care infrastructure and improving outcomes for patients across the area.

Maria Parham Health will continue to provide renovation updates through its official Facebook page and local media outlets-

SportsTalk: Warren County Sets Its Sights on the Vipers

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Friday’s County Line Clash pits the Vance County Vipers against the Warren County Eagles in the opening game of the fall football season.

Last season’s matchup was a close game, said Doc Ayscue, with the Vipers clinching it in the fourth quarter for the 18-0 victory over the Eagles.

And he and Scout Hughes are looking for another good game Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Viper Stadium.

“It’s going to be an interesting game this year,” Ayscue said. The two schools are in different conferences following a reorganization last year – Vance County High School is 6A and Warren County is 2A, but

that doesn’t seem to bother Eagles Head Coach Victor Hunt.

Beginning his seventh year as head coach, Hunt said the off-season has been pretty good and he’s looking forward to going head-to-head with non-conference teams like the Vipers.

“We accept all the challenges,” Hunt said. “We want to win a state championship,” he said. “You do that by playing playoff caliber teams.”

If that results in some non-conference losses, so be it. Hunt sees them as learning experiences for his team, which, although young with a small group of seniors, has seen a good deal of playing time.

The Eagles participated in the recent Louisburg Jamboree, and Hunt said he saw a lot of good things on the field and some things to work on.

Friday’s game is going to be physical, he said. “That’s what we want…just being tough – that’s our brand of football.”

Penalties hurt them last season against the Vipers, he said, so limiting penalties and turnovers Friday will be key, he pointed out.

“The practice is always exciting Week 1,” he said, noting that there’s a little added pressure – especially for the seniors.

“It is a rivalry game, but it’s not going to determine any championships,” Hunt said. And his players are up for the challenge.

They’re rising to the occasion in guiding the underclassmen with their leadership and holding each other accountable for plays on the field.

holding each other accountable.

For Hunt, coaching is a blessing. “I think I have the greatest job in America. I love our kids. I love our community. It’s so much bigger than football…it’s about the family we’ve built here.”

Former players are returning to talk to this year’s team, working with them and offering encouragement.

“It means everything,” Hunt said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

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