— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS
The Victory Bell remains in Chapel Hill after an emotional battle between the North Carolina Tar Heels and long-time rival Duke Blue Devils called for double overtime. UNC quarterback Drake Maye completed 28 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. Maye also ran 12 times for 22 yards, including a rushing touchdown.
“I saw Drake Maye do some things tonight, that were just unbelievable,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “He made play after play after play, including the two-point play that normal people just don’t make.”
Through the air, Maye looked poised in the pocket, dispersing the ball to seven offensive playmakers. One of Maye’s top targets, wide receiver Tez Walker, reeled in seven passes for 162 yards.
UNC’s ground attack was equally successful. Tar Heel running back Omarian Hampton demonstrated elusiveness and explosive speed, carrying the ball 31 times for 169 yards.
UNC wasted no time putting points on the board. Their first offensive drive consisted of 10 plays, which accumulated 75 yards. During that drive, Maye connected with Walker for a 43-yard completion before rushing into the end zone for a one-yard score.
After UNC’s defensive unit limited Duke to four yards, Maye led a fast-paced offensive attack, advancing the 67 yards in 3:51 to set up a 31-yard field goal.
Towards the beginning of the second quarter, Duke, down by 10, found its footing and marched 70 yards for a touchdown to shrink UNC’s lead to six. However, for most of the first half, UNC was dominating in total yards and success through the air.
On the ensuing possession, the Blue Devils took advantage of UNC’s poor field position by forcing an interception to set up a scoring opportunity at the UNC 14. A few plays later, Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis rushed three yards into the end zone to give his team its first lead of the night.
UNC’s last drive of the first half resulted in a 25-yard field goal to reclaim the lead.
After Duke failed to gain a yard on its first drive of the second half, UNC went 55 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal and extend its lead to six.
Throughout the third quarter, The Tar Heel defense stunned the Blue Devils, limiting them to 16 yards of total offense and forcing multiple punts. With the clock winding down at the end of the third quarter, UNC’s offense found themselves in an excellent scoring position. Then, at the top of the fourth quarter, Hampton plowed his way into the end zone, building a comfortable 12-point lead.
Duke’s offense bounced back in the fourth quarter, outscoring UNC 22-10. After scoring three touchdowns, Duke managed to take the lead with 41 seconds left in the game. However, that lead was brief because UNC kicker Noah Burnette booted the ball 43 yards through the end zone to tie the game up at 36-36.
Duke received the ball to start the first period of overtime. With minimal success, they had to settle for a 49-yard field goal. The Tar Heels responded with another Burnette field goal to force a second overtime.
On UNC’s second possession in overtime, Maye rushed five yards into the end zone and completed a two-point conversion. Duke, down by eight, responded with a touchdown after Loftis hit wide receiver Jordan Moore in stride. Unfortunately for Duke, the two-point try was unsuccessful as the ball fell incomplete. Tar Heel fans immediately stormed the field to celebrate the hard-earned victory.
“What a game,” said Brown. “It was fun to coach. It was fun to watch and both teams competed.”
TownTalk: Commissioners Hear Presentation From Vaya Health About “Diversion Center” Plans
/by WIZS StaffThe Vance County Board of Commissioners got an update on plans by Vaya Health to turn a vacant retail space into a 16-bed “diversion center” designed for individuals who are in a mental health crisis.
There are still many hurdles to cross, Vaya officials said, but first steps include getting support – and ultimately money – from the county to operate the facility. Vaya representatives presented the plan and update during the commissioners’ Nov. 6 meeting.
The space is connected to Tractor Supply on Dabney Drive, and it’s where the former Big Lots store was located.
“There’s not a lot of current space available that can be modified,” said Elliot Clark, Vaya’s community relations regional director.
The site would have to be rezoned, and they’ve spoken with city officials about that, Clark said. “It’s the best option we could find at the best price point,” he said.
The $4.5 million estimate is now a few months old, so the final figure to complete the project may be higher. Vaya is contributing $1.5 million of the total, and they’re pretty confident they can secure significant state funding, but it helps to know that Vance County leaders support the project – financially and otherwise.
The diversion center would serve Granville and Franklin counties, too, and the Vaya reps will ask those two counties for support as well. No definite amounts have been determined, but it could work out to be something along the line of $500,000 per county.
The main idea for this facility it to help take some of the heat off hospital emergency rooms, which often aren’t equipped to handle the specific needs of individuals suffering from behavioral and mental health crises.
“There is significant need in the community,” said Vaya Vice President Donald Reuss, adding that while there are numerous providers across the system, there’s no comprehensive crisis center in place.
Of particular interest is the planned walk-in clinic. “It’s really the core piece,” Reuss said, to support those in crisis and to prevent crises. Individuals can walk in, have access to a therapist or psychiatrist and get meds filled at the in-house pharmacy.
The walk-in clinic will provide “timely access to care when people need it.” The walk-in clinic would follow normal business hours, but the urgent care side would be available 24/7.
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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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‘Operation Christmas Child’ Sends Shoeboxes Of Gifts To Children Across The Globe
/by WIZS StaffThe Samaritan’s Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’ collection week runs through Nov. 20, and there are several local drop-off spots that will be collecting boxes filled with gifts that will be distributed throughout the world for Christmas. This year’s goal is to reach 11 million children with the traditional “shoeboxes.”
North Henderson Baptist Church is the drop-off location in Henderson, according to information from Dolores Brown with Samaritan’s Purse.
Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, personal care items and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, which began today and continues for the next week.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for three decades. In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. This season, there’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.
“This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.”
Participants can use the online lookup tool to find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. It is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop off.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
North Henderson Baptist Church, 1211 N. Garnett St., will accept shoeboxes at the following drop-off times:
TownTalk: Mark Hopper Reflects On McGregor Hall’s Impact On Youth, Local Economy
/by Laura GabelMark Hopper, executive director at McGregor Hall, wears several hats – in addition to overseeing the venue and its operation, Hopper is equally at home in the orchestra pit, directing musicians during a performance and directing actors on stage during rehearsals.
But he said one of the most rewarding things he gets to see is the effect the theater has on young performers.
“It’s rewarding, watching them grow as actors and artists – and as human beings,” Hopper said on Monday’s TownTalk. “I see something new every single night that we rehearse – it’s very rewarding to watch them grow daily.”
“McGregor Hall Live” kicked off the 2023-24 season with a two-weekend run of “Ragtime: The Musical” and, by all reports, it was a glowing success.
And while Hopper said he’s grateful for the kind words of theater critics, he said he tries to keep things in balance.
“To get that validation is really rewarding for the cast,” Hopper said. More importantly, though, he said he tried to impress upon the actors and crew – many of whom live outside the Henderson area – “what a really big deal this is.”
The “this” Hopper’s referring to is the whole McGregor Hall entity, which has proven itself to be a venue that host high-quality performances as well as a providing a destination for numerous other performance competitions. In short, McGregor Hall is fueling economic growth – all without financial support from either the city or county.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic impact study suggested that McGregor Hall drew about $3 million to the local area. Hopper said he’s confident that number will double when the current economic impact study numbers are released.
“I hope we continue the pattern of growth that we’ve had since COVID,” Hopper said, adding that after a year of being totally shut down with no live performances, McGregor Hall has had “a pretty remarkable rise from the ashes.”
He said that individuals have bought tickets from 209 different ZIP codes representing 21 states – people who are coming in to Henderson to spend money, eat in our restaurants and stay in our hotels, Hopper added. “If we stay on that arc, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”
Next up is a house-produced Christmas show in two parts, Hopper said. “We’re putting on a stage production ourselves…that features a lot of local and regional talent.” The first part is a shortened version of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol,” followed by a stage musical of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” complete with a live jazz trio.
Visit www.mcgregorhall.org to see the complete list of events scheduled.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-13-23 Noon
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Native Plants
/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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UNC Football Retains the Victory Bell After Emotional Double Overtime Victory 47-45
/by WIZS Staff— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS
The Victory Bell remains in Chapel Hill after an emotional battle between the North Carolina Tar Heels and long-time rival Duke Blue Devils called for double overtime. UNC quarterback Drake Maye completed 28 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. Maye also ran 12 times for 22 yards, including a rushing touchdown.
“I saw Drake Maye do some things tonight, that were just unbelievable,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “He made play after play after play, including the two-point play that normal people just don’t make.”
Through the air, Maye looked poised in the pocket, dispersing the ball to seven offensive playmakers. One of Maye’s top targets, wide receiver Tez Walker, reeled in seven passes for 162 yards.
UNC’s ground attack was equally successful. Tar Heel running back Omarian Hampton demonstrated elusiveness and explosive speed, carrying the ball 31 times for 169 yards.
UNC wasted no time putting points on the board. Their first offensive drive consisted of 10 plays, which accumulated 75 yards. During that drive, Maye connected with Walker for a 43-yard completion before rushing into the end zone for a one-yard score.
After UNC’s defensive unit limited Duke to four yards, Maye led a fast-paced offensive attack, advancing the 67 yards in 3:51 to set up a 31-yard field goal.
Towards the beginning of the second quarter, Duke, down by 10, found its footing and marched 70 yards for a touchdown to shrink UNC’s lead to six. However, for most of the first half, UNC was dominating in total yards and success through the air.
On the ensuing possession, the Blue Devils took advantage of UNC’s poor field position by forcing an interception to set up a scoring opportunity at the UNC 14. A few plays later, Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis rushed three yards into the end zone to give his team its first lead of the night.
UNC’s last drive of the first half resulted in a 25-yard field goal to reclaim the lead.
After Duke failed to gain a yard on its first drive of the second half, UNC went 55 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal and extend its lead to six.
Throughout the third quarter, The Tar Heel defense stunned the Blue Devils, limiting them to 16 yards of total offense and forcing multiple punts. With the clock winding down at the end of the third quarter, UNC’s offense found themselves in an excellent scoring position. Then, at the top of the fourth quarter, Hampton plowed his way into the end zone, building a comfortable 12-point lead.
Duke’s offense bounced back in the fourth quarter, outscoring UNC 22-10. After scoring three touchdowns, Duke managed to take the lead with 41 seconds left in the game. However, that lead was brief because UNC kicker Noah Burnette booted the ball 43 yards through the end zone to tie the game up at 36-36.
Duke received the ball to start the first period of overtime. With minimal success, they had to settle for a 49-yard field goal. The Tar Heels responded with another Burnette field goal to force a second overtime.
On UNC’s second possession in overtime, Maye rushed five yards into the end zone and completed a two-point conversion. Duke, down by eight, responded with a touchdown after Loftis hit wide receiver Jordan Moore in stride. Unfortunately for Duke, the two-point try was unsuccessful as the ball fell incomplete. Tar Heel fans immediately stormed the field to celebrate the hard-earned victory.
“What a game,” said Brown. “It was fun to coach. It was fun to watch and both teams competed.”
Warren Library Prepares To Crank Up Outreach Services Again
/by WIZS StaffThe Warren County Memorial Library is getting its outreach services back on track and has hired Benjamin Griffith to the library staff to help provide materials into the community once again. Scheduled stops should be in place by December.
“Ben is a great addition to the library staff. I look forward to working with him to grow and expand outreach services in the county. We plan to visit daycares, assisted living facilities, homebound individuals, and more.” said Library Director Christy Bondy.
Griffith grew up in Littleton, where he developed a love for books, theatre and visual art. Performing on Lakeland’s stage starting at age 12, he saw firsthand the impact that literature and the arts have on our community. This formative experience inspired him to pursue a B.A. in Drama, graduating magna cum laude from UNC-Greensboro in 2015.
His first role after graduation was working at McKay’s Used Books and More of Greensboro, where as a bookseller he helped patrons find their favorite titles. Since moving back to the eastern part of the state, he has worked for the City of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, as well as the Lakeland Cultural Arts Center of Littleton. He is excited to share his knowledge and experience with others in his new role and looks forward to championing outreach to every corner of Warren County.
To request more information on outreach services or schedule a visit, please call 252.257.4990.
China Company Set To Make Hemp Food Products In Louisburg
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III
Franklin County is the site for a new plant that will produce hemp food products, representing a $10 million investment and the creation of dozens of jobs.
China-based Q-power Inc. is in the final phase before it begins operation at 3959 NC-39 S in Louisburg, according to a press release from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III. The plan is to begin production before the end of the year. The project, initiated in 2018, was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Company Chairwoman Zhiyi Zhang led a tour of the facility Thursday. The company is investing in this new plant in Louisburg to produce hemp food locally.
“I am excited about Q-power opening its operations here in the county,” said Franklin County Manager Kim Denton. “Franklin County continues to grow and is well positioned for companies like Q-power to thrive.”
Q-power has been in business for more than 20 years and is an industry leader in hemp food production, including hemp seed, oil and protein.
“Q-power is committed to investing and exploring the market in the United States to meet our American customers’ needs,” said Zhiyi Zhang, Chairwoman at Q-power. “We are excited about opening this plant in Franklin County.”
VGCC Foundation Hosts Holiday Tree Online Silent Auction
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
The Vance Granville Community College Foundation is helping the community get into the holiday spirit with a Festival of Trees Online Silent Auction. Bids will be accepted Nov. 12-19 for the pre-decorated holiday trees, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.
All fundraiser proceeds will benefit the VGCC Foundation and to help provide scholarships, financial assistance and more to VGCC students.
The trees will be on display in the VGCC Main Campus Civic Center in Henderson from Nov. 13-17 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Access photos of each tree on the VGCC Facebook Event page.
Winning bidders should pick their trees up by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Access the auction here: www.vgcc.edu/festival-of-trees.
In addition to student support, the Foundation supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training and economic development in the community. Tax-deductible donations to VGCCF have often been used to honor a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Festival of Trees auction or the VGCC Foundation, contact VGCCF at foundation@vgcc.edu or 252.431.5913.