The Henderson City Council approved funding two projects as it continues to spend down its opioid settlement money.
Community Partners of Hope asked for $140,000 to create a community recovery and resilience center. It will work in close partnership with Vance Recovery – in fact, the space beside Vance Recovery’s Andrews Avenue location will be renovated to provide services that also will include other working with other community agencies to provide support to those in crisis.
Jane King and John Mattocks provided an overview of the program proposal from their different perspectives, King from CPOH and Mattocks from Vance Recovery.
The money will allow CPOH to expand its services and be a resource not just for homeless men, King said, but for families in need, something Mattocks told Council members Monday had been “sorely missing.”
Over the next few years, the goal is to be a resource for prevention, reducing and eliminating recidivism and ER visits, as well as overdose deaths. Another component will be CPR training and how to administer Narcan.
“We want to be a welcoming place for people who are suffering the stigma of addiction,” Mattocks said, adding that having connections with other community resources like Day Mark’s mental health component as well as NC Works for employment opportunities.
Mattocks expects to take a few months to renovate the adjacent space and hiring an administrator before the program can be ready to serve.
Another $50,000 was approved to create two Recovery Alive homes – one for men and one for women.
Recovery Alive, Inc.’s CEO, Tisha Temple, defines an RA home as Christ-centered, sober living homes for individuals who have completed a treatment program and who are ready to begin next steps toward independent living.
“We are super excited about the work that we get to do with Henderson,” Temple told WIZS News. Temple is a native of Henderson and has been sober for the past 11 years.
She currently lives in Johnston County, and started the Recovery Alive, Inc. ministry there about four years ago.
Since then, more RA homes have been established in other North Carolina counties, as well as West Virginia and Alabama.
Temple said, “There is a need in Henderson and Vance County, and the money is just sitting in the bank,” she said of the opioid settlement funds disbursed thus far to Henderson.
“We’re going to be able to help save some lives and restore some peace and serenity to our surrounding areas, if we are able to utilize the funding in a way that is evidence-based and proven effective to make a difference.”
The next step for Temple is to identify and lease two properties in Henderson to create the homes, one for men and one for women and then prepare them for occupancy – they’ll be fully furnished to create a real home atmosphere. The residents will be responsible for paying household bills, and will get help and support with those independent daily living skills to prepare them to go out on their own and be successful.
She’s seen the concept work in the other RA homes, where residents grow, learn and move out to begin their lives anew.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see,” she said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve.
I’m excited to be able to expand what we’re doing out to Henderson – we are very grateful.”
Temple is so passionate about the RA homes because a similar type of program helped her get back on her feet. She’s come a long way from being a homeless addict on the streets of Henderson and she wants to be able to offer others the help that she received.
“I know that we can get better. I know that with the right resources, the right support system and with the right levels of recovery care that people, communities and families can not only get better, we can help other people get better.”
The $7.4 billion opioid settlement will support opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs over the next 15 years in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and four U.S. territories.
CLICK PLAY!
Final Candidate List For Henderson’s Oct. 7 Municipal Election
/by WIZS StaffHere is the complete listing of candidates, in alphabetical order:
Henderson City Council Ward 1 at large:
Geraldine Champion
Sara M. Coffey (incumbent)
Kenia Gomez-Jimenez
Clementine “Tina” Hunter
Henderson City Council Ward 2 at large:
Benjamin Buckner
George L. Mayo
Lamont Noel (incumbent)
Henderson City Council Ward 3:
Garry Daeke (incumbent)
Clifford “Cliff” High
Jason A. Spriggs
Deryl “Ms. Dee” vonWilliams
Henderson City Council Ward 4:
Catherine “Kitty” Gill
Fred Robertson
Ola Thorpe-Cooper (incumbent)
Filings for the municipalities of Kittrell and Middleburg:
Kittrell mayor:
Gene Pulley
Kittrell town commissioner:
Mary Jo Floyd
Susan Pulley
Robert B. Tunstall
Middleburg mayor:
Ray Bullock
Middleburg town council:
Hazel A. Baskett
Shirley H. Bullock
Mamie Turner
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-18-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Click Play!
Maria Parham Health Earns American Heart Association Award For Commitment To Stroke Care
/by WIZS Staff– Information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer Donna Young
Maria Parham Health has received recognition from the American Heart Association for its commitment to high-quality stroke care, earning the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award. The award is given for dedication to following evidence-based clinical guidelines that improve patient outcomes for stroke care.
Maria Parham Health also received the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award, which recognizes hospitals that meet specific benchmarks to reduce the time between a stroke patient’s arrival and the administration of clot-busting medication, known as thrombolytic therapy. These efforts are critical in saving lives and reducing the long-term impact of strokes.
“Maria Parham Health is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer of Maria Parham Health. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to apply proven strategies every day, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Vance County and the surrounding communities can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability in the United States. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke program aims to ensure that patients receive care aligned with the most current evidence-based treatment practices.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Maria Parham Health for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved outcomes, fewer hospital readmissions and reduced mortality rates — a benefit to patients, families and the health care system as a whole.”
Hospitals earn recognition through the program by demonstrating consistent adherence to performance measures, including timely diagnosis and treatment, and by educating patients and families on managing health post-discharge to aid in recovery and prevent recurrence.
SportsTalk: Wrapping up the NFC North & Preview of the Panthers
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue finish their preview of the NFC North for the football season. The guys also preview the Carolina Panthers and how they improved in the offseason.
Click Play!
The Local Skinny! City Council Approves Funding from Opioid Settlement
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson City Council approved funding two projects as it continues to spend down its opioid settlement money.
Community Partners of Hope asked for $140,000 to create a community recovery and resilience center. It will work in close partnership with Vance Recovery – in fact, the space beside Vance Recovery’s Andrews Avenue location will be renovated to provide services that also will include other working with other community agencies to provide support to those in crisis.
Jane King and John Mattocks provided an overview of the program proposal from their different perspectives, King from CPOH and Mattocks from Vance Recovery.
The money will allow CPOH to expand its services and be a resource not just for homeless men, King said, but for families in need, something Mattocks told Council members Monday had been “sorely missing.”
Over the next few years, the goal is to be a resource for prevention, reducing and eliminating recidivism and ER visits, as well as overdose deaths. Another component will be CPR training and how to administer Narcan.
“We want to be a welcoming place for people who are suffering the stigma of addiction,” Mattocks said, adding that having connections with other community resources like Day Mark’s mental health component as well as NC Works for employment opportunities.
Mattocks expects to take a few months to renovate the adjacent space and hiring an administrator before the program can be ready to serve.
Another $50,000 was approved to create two Recovery Alive homes – one for men and one for women.
Recovery Alive, Inc.’s CEO, Tisha Temple, defines an RA home as Christ-centered, sober living homes for individuals who have completed a treatment program and who are ready to begin next steps toward independent living.
“We are super excited about the work that we get to do with Henderson,” Temple told WIZS News. Temple is a native of Henderson and has been sober for the past 11 years.
She currently lives in Johnston County, and started the Recovery Alive, Inc. ministry there about four years ago.
Since then, more RA homes have been established in other North Carolina counties, as well as West Virginia and Alabama.
Temple said, “There is a need in Henderson and Vance County, and the money is just sitting in the bank,” she said of the opioid settlement funds disbursed thus far to Henderson.
“We’re going to be able to help save some lives and restore some peace and serenity to our surrounding areas, if we are able to utilize the funding in a way that is evidence-based and proven effective to make a difference.”
The next step for Temple is to identify and lease two properties in Henderson to create the homes, one for men and one for women and then prepare them for occupancy – they’ll be fully furnished to create a real home atmosphere. The residents will be responsible for paying household bills, and will get help and support with those independent daily living skills to prepare them to go out on their own and be successful.
She’s seen the concept work in the other RA homes, where residents grow, learn and move out to begin their lives anew.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see,” she said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve.
I’m excited to be able to expand what we’re doing out to Henderson – we are very grateful.”
Temple is so passionate about the RA homes because a similar type of program helped her get back on her feet. She’s come a long way from being a homeless addict on the streets of Henderson and she wants to be able to offer others the help that she received.
“I know that we can get better. I know that with the right resources, the right support system and with the right levels of recovery care that people, communities and families can not only get better, we can help other people get better.”
The $7.4 billion opioid settlement will support opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs over the next 15 years in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and four U.S. territories.
CLICK PLAY!
Chamber Of Commerce Sends Letter To Mayor, Council Members
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has sent a letter to the mayor and City Council members asking that local elected officials conduct meetings in a positive, constructive manner.
Chamber Board President Scott Burwell signed the letter, as well as Beth Townsend and Kevin Wade, co-chairs of the Chamber’s Government & Public Affairs Committee.
The letter was cc’d to City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry, Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson and members of the Chamber board.
The letter is dated July 1, and reads as follows:
Click Play!
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-17-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Click Play!
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids
/by WIZS StaffJamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
We speak about raising emotional intelligent children. We also discuss more about the Supporting Father Involvement Initiative.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
Click Play!
Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott Going to Bat for Kittrell Job Corps
/by WIZS StaffHenderson Mayor Melissa Elliott is going to bat for the future of the Kittrell Job Corps, which faces possible elimination in the recently passed FY26 budget that was signed into law on July 4.
Elliott sent letters to North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, as well as U.S. Congressman Don Davis.
The Kittrell Job Corps is one of 99 Job Corps centers, which provide residential programs designed to help low-income youth achieve education and career goals.
Although the program had been scheduled to be shut down on June 30 when the fiscal year ended, a temporary restraining order put in place days before has put a pause on the closures until a judge can rule on the matter.
Elliott told WIZS that she had traveled to Washington, D.C. to talk with the office of U.S. Rep. Don Davis about the matter.
Here’s the text of the letters, which were dated July 15, 2025:
SportsTalk: NFC East Preview
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue preview the NFC East division and other teams as we get ready for pro football.
Click Play!