Gov. Cooper Releases Info On County Boards Of Elections Chairs

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The office of Gov. Roy Cooper has released a list of chairmen and chairwomen of the state’s county boards of elections.

James Baines has been named chairman in Vance County. Baines has previously served as the board secretary.

James Wall, Sr. continues as chair in Granville County, according to information from the governor’s office.

Esther Terry has been named chair in Warren County and Bobbie Richardson will begin a term as chair of the Franklin County board.

North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections conduct local elections, operate voting sites, maintain voter registration lists and handle many other aspects of elections administration. The State Board works with county boards of elections offices to ensure elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.

Perry Memorial Library

West End Community Watch Gets History Lesson At Library

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The June meeting of West End Community Watch was held at Perry Memorial Library, where local historian Tem Blackburn gave a brief account of the beginnings of Vance County and the City of Henderson with displays of interesting artifacts and mementoes serving as a backdrop.

Displays in the History Room include a timeline, beginning with the original Native Americans living in the area and ending with current-day information.  A major display depicts the Loughlin Circus performers, including beautiful original posters.  There are new displays about the Vance Hotel and John T. Church.  Nannie Crowder’s showcase includes her childhood toys.  Bennett Perry’s extensive arrowhead collection also is on view and housed in a display case.  There is a lovely mural of old Garnett Street as seen from the inside of what used to be Parker’s Drug Store.

If you did not come to the meeting, you missed learning a lot about the area, stated Claire Catherwood, community watch member.

The next West End Community Watch will take place in August. A speaker will be announced closer to the meeting date.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Names New Community Relations Manager

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Duke Energy has announced Elizabeth Townsend as its new Government and Community Relations manager, succeeding Tanya Evans, who recently accepted a new position with the company and relocated to South Carolina.

“This is an exciting transition for me after having served in various capacities at Piedmont Community College for the last 17 years,” Townsend said in a press statement. Townsend served most recently as the community college’s vice president for advancement and communications.

“Duke Energy believes our success is tied directly to the success and strength of our communities and the customers we serve, and I couldn’t agree more. Tanya ensured a tradition of responsiveness and community involvement, and I look forward to building upon that commitment,” she said.

As a reminder, Townsend said Duke Energy’s customer service center is available to help with billing and service inquiries, as well as when outages are rerported. That number is 800.452.2777.

Duke Energy monitors storms throughout the state to be ready to respond to outages and emergencies.

Customers who experience an outage during storms can report it by:

  • Visiting duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device
  • Texting OUT to 57801
  • Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800-POWERON
Warren Co. Memorial Library

Warren Library Gets 3 Grants Totalling More Than $58K

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Warren County Memorial Library plans to use more than $58,000 in grant money to get a few projects off the ground.

The three grants total $58,468, according to information from Charla Duncan, Warren County’s public information officer. One grant will be used for creating storywalks at Buck Spring Park and Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park; another grant is for the expansion of the library’s collection through the NC Cardinal system; and the third grant is to hire consultants to assist in developing a new five-year strategic plan.

“The library is looking forward to implementing these three grants to better serve the county,” stated Library Director Christy Bondy. “The strategic plan updates will help gather feedback from the community on shaping the future of the library.”

The projects are supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The federal funds help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. At Warren County Memorial Library, the LSTA grants will help expand the library’s collection through the NC Cardinal system. Users can borrow materials from 60 other participating library systems statewide.

Warren County Memorial Library received three of the 48 grants for fiscal year 2023-2024 awarded to North Carolina libraries from this year’s federal allotment of $2,590,904.  The LSTA grant program administered by the State Library of North Carolina funds library projects across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access, and community engagement in North Carolina’s libraries.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. Through the LSTA Grants to States program, IMLS provides funds to state library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries.  To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program, visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-814-6796.

The Warren County Memorial Library is located at 119 S. Front St.  Warrenton. For more information, visit www.wcmlibrary.org.

SportsTalk: JF Webb’s Burnette To Play College Lacrosse At Sewanee

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Henderson’s Beau Burnette’s list of activities and accolades while at JF Webb High School is quite impressive. He played five sports: lacrosse, golf, baseball, football and basketball.  Burnette was the Triangle North Conference Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons, academic all conference all four years, all conference in lacrosse, football and golf and was awarded the Tony Cullen Scholarship Award.  While this was happening, Burnette developed a love of history and maintained a 4.29 GPA.

Burnette, the son of Scott and Caroline Burnette, will take his love of lacrosse to Sewanee, whose official name is The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee – where he has received a scholarship. He appeared on Thursday’s SportsTalk to discuss his high school career, love of lacrosse and his upcoming college experience.

While not playing summer travel ball, Burnette isn’t taking the summer completely off. “I’m lifting weights and running,” Burnette said as he prepares for the start of his college career on August 19.

So how does a young man handle five sports and academics?  “I try to keep a good balance between practice and grades,” Burnette said.  While he played many sports at JF Webb, Burnette will limit his college career to just lacrosse while in college.  He said he enjoyed the camaraderie of the other sports he played but the speed of lacrosse combined with the physicality of the sport is what he loves and that’s what he will concentrate on as well as his academics.

Burnette will major in history at Sewanee.

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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Tuneups

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For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Vehicles don’t usually break down in convenient locations, like the driveway. Vehicle owners can help to make sure their cars and trucks stay in good working order with regular tuneups, whether performed at home or by your favorite mechanic.

Advance Auto Parts maintains a wide inventory of replacement parts, from spark plugs to air filters and the cabin air filters, to keep drivers driving and cars moving.

Michael Puckett, manager of the Advance Auto on Raleigh, said it could be time for a tuneup if the engine is “missing” on one cylinder, or if the ride is a little rough.

Today’s spark plugs can last longer, but they also are more expensive, Puckett said on Thursday’s Pop the Hood segment.

The staff at Advance Auto can help customers choose the correct plug for their vehicle. “We can verify by putting in the VIN,” he said, or even use the vehicle’s license plate to verify the make and model. Different vehicle manufacturers use different brands of spark plug, so it’s important to install the proper plug.

Proper maintenance can prolong the life of a spark plug, and Puckett said he’s seen plugs last for 150,000 to 200,000 miles. Most manufacturers recommend changing the plugs at 100,000 miles, but he said to refer to your vehicle manual for your car’s specs.

And those cabin air filters that seem to magically disappear under and behind the dashboard, help keep debris and more out of the vehicle’s cabin. A clogged cabin air filter can reduce the efficiency of the air conditioning; with the upcoming summertime heat, that wouldn’t be good.

“If you keep your vehicle up,” Puckett said, “a lot of times, you’ll be running clear and free.”

Check out all the products and services that Advance Auto Parts offers, in-store and online.

Now, through Aug. 16, spend $50 with Speed Perks and get 20 cents off a gallon of gas at participating Shell stations.Visit https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/ to learn more.

The information contained in this post and the broadcast audio attached is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value on and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship. 

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TownTalk: Combine Fun and Safety For July 4th Festivities

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However you decide to enjoy the upcoming July 4 holiday, law enforcement officials and others cannot stress enough the importance of remembering basic safety rules to keep the next few days a positive experience that produces good memories.

The long holiday weekend surely will be filled with cookouts, water activities and fireworks, just to name a few. But any activity can take a turn when safety rules aren’t observed.

Here’s a compilation of do’s and don’ts from Vance Sheriff Curtis, Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, and others to make sure everyone enjoys the holiday.

  • Know what fireworks are acceptable for personal use where you live.
  • Don’t let children light fireworks – let them enjoy from a safe distance.
  • Never try to re-light a “dud.” Discard it and use another.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose at the ready when setting off fireworks.
  • Swim where there’s a lifeguard on duty.
  • If you’re at the pool, walk, don’t run on the pool deck.
  • No diving into pools except in authorized diving areas.
  • NEVER leave a child unattended near water, whether it’s a pool, pond, lake or ocean.
  • If you hear thunder, even in the distance, get out of the water.
  • Heed flags posted at the beach that indicate safety regarding swimming and rip currents.
  • Whether the vehicle is on the highway or in the water, drivers should NOT drink and get behind the wheel. Operation Firecracker Booze It and Lose It is in full swing through July 9, and Operation Dry Water runs from July 1-3.

 

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Chamber’s Student Spotlight Shines On Cassie Peele

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A rising senior at Granville Early College is the inaugural recipient of a Chamber of Commerce award that shines a light on teen employees in the county.

Cassie Peele has worked at Strong Arm Baking Co. in Oxford for close to two years, and owner Julia Blaine nominated Peele for the Student Spotlight, sponsored by the Granville Chamber.

“(Cassie) arrives to work every Saturday morning at 4:30 a.m., before most high school students could even dream about waking up,” Blaine wrote in her nomination. She began with basic cleaning tasks, but always asked for more. Now she leads the wholesale packing operation, leading four others who are responsible for packing all the items for Strong Arm’s dozens of wholesale accounts.

But that’s not all. “Cassie also represents our business at two farmers markets, keeping a clean and efficient selling space and treating customers and coworkers alike with respect and kindness. She is a true shining star for our business… continually rising to meet new challenges, and consistently surprising us with her problem-solving ideas, and positive, contagious attitude,” Blaine said.

In addition to her outstanding work ethic and leadership, Peele is committed to making a difference in her local community. She is a volunteer with Granville County Teen Court and is a member of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council.  She is also a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the Granville County Library Board of Trustees at the Richard H. Thornton Library, which allows her to give adult staff feedback on how teens view the changes and policies of the library. As if that wasn’t enough, she gives blood to the American Red Cross Association and creates holiday cards for the children’s hospital.

“Cassie is so deserving of this recognition.  She is a humble, intelligent, and kind person and it has been my pleasure to serve as her College Liaison over the past 3 years. I am very proud of her and the contributions of her time and talents to the Granville County community.  In addition to her work at Strong Arm Bakery, her service to various organizations will have a lasting impact.  I encourage her to keep shining bright and to continue the awesome work on and off the job!” said Reba Bullock, Chamber board president.

Cassie told the Chamber, “Strong Arm Baking is like my second home.  This work environment is helping me obtain more knowledge for my future career which will probably be in business administration. Thomas and Julia Blaine are role models in the Granville County community that can show that anything is possible!”

Cassie Peele exemplifies the qualities of a well-rounded, accomplished student who is poised to make a lasting impact in their community. Her achievements in academics, leadership, and community engagement have set a high standard for excellence. The Chamber of Commerce recognizes and applauds Cassie’s outstanding accomplishments and looks forward to watching her continue to shine!

Granville Poll Workers Get Pay Boost

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-Courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Poll workers in Granville County will receive a pay increase beginning with the 2023 municipal elections on Nov. 7. The Granville County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation from the Granville County Board of Elections to increase the pay rate by about 25 percent, bringing pay to $11.50/hour for poll workers and $13/hour for poll workers in charge, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The commissioners also approved overtime pay for Poll Workers who staff the One-Stop Early Voting locations in Granville County.

“Poll workers are critical to ensuring that Election Day and One-Stop early voting runs smoothly in Granville County,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Russ May. “We listened to the feedback from the Board of Elections and their staff and understand the challenges they face in recruiting poll workers each election cycle. Hopefully, this pay increase for poll workers will help ease the burden and show our appreciation for the valuable service these individuals provide.”

Board of Elections Chair James A. Wall, Sr. thanked commissioners for their consideration in this matter. “In my view, the (board’s) decision to increase the pay for poll workers is a recognition of their dedication and hard work and an acknowledgement that poll workers are essential to the Granville County Board of Elections mission,” Wall said.

The 2023 municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about becoming a poll  worker, contact the Board of Elections at 919.693.2515.

Learn more about upcoming elections in Granville County at  https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/board-of-elections/.