Connor Hicks is a young man with goals and aspirations. As the 17-year-old prepares to begin his senior year at Henderson Collegiate, he’s got his eyes not just on graduation, but on what he’ll be doing after he gets that well-earned diploma.
In order to graduate, Henderson Collegiate requires its seniors to complete a project. Hicks was doing a little online research using resources from school counselors and he came upon something that piqued his interest: the Governor’s Page Program.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity so I applied,” Hicks said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.
He was part of a group of fewer than a dozen others selected to participate in the program during the week just following Memorial Day. He spent May 28-31 in Raleigh and said he got to visit different departments of state government and see how government functions and who’s in charge – from the governor and lieutenant governor on down.
He didn’t get to meet Gov. Roy Cooper, but Hicks said he did learn how to be a better teammate – “how to be a member of a team.”
He may want to review those notes if his post-graduation plans come to fruition as he hopes: if all goes according to plan, Hicks will be joining the U.S. Marines.
“He makes me and his dad both real proud,” said his mother, Margaret. “Since he was about 11 or 12, that’s all he wanted to do – go in the service.”
His dad served in the Navy, he had uncles in the Army and his brother was in the Air Force, but Hicks said he’s got his sights on the Marines.
“It makes me feel like I’m doing something that’s bigger than myself,” he said, adding that he takes pride in knowing that he will be part of a branch of the military service that will defend the United States and its freedoms.
“It makes us really proud that he wants to go and serve his country,” his mother said.
Learn more about the Governor’s Page Program at https://governor.nc.gov/governors-page-program.
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Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-10-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Triangle North Business Park Among Top 15 In State For Economic Development Prospects
/by WIZS StaffGranville County’s Triangle North Business Park has been included among the top 15 locations in the state best positioned to successfully serve major advanced manufacturing projects as part of the state’s Selectsite Readiness Program.
The SRP was created by the General Assembly in 2023 to support the development of sites that will increase the state’s competitiveness for new or expanded major manufacturing projects in key industries, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina contracted with Site Selection Group, a national site selection firm, and Thomas & Hutton, a full-service engineering and design firm, to evaluate sites across North Carolina to determine those best positioned to serve potential advanced manufacturing projects.
Triangle North Granville was submitted and approved from among 60 sites that were being considered using criteria including technical/engineering assessments, evaluation of workforce availability, site development costs and overall operating costs.
“Having Granville County and Triangle North recognized by EDPNC as a top fifteen site for economic development is a huge win for our community,” said Tim Karan, chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners. “Granville County is, and will remain, a top choice for industries seeking to locate or expand in North Carolina. Being added to the SRP shows the effects of Granville County’s investment in Triangle North to enhance thoughtful and desirable economic development opportunities for our citizens.”
In recent months, Granville County has begun to install water and sewer infrastructure to make Triangle North more desirable to industrial development and has entered into a contract with Portman Industrial, LLC for the sale of 127.16 acres in Triangle North. Portman plans to construct buildings totaling 940,000 square feet, which will be built to accommodate targeted industries that will bring higher tax values and higher paying jobs to the county. Portman Industrial plans to complete the construction of both buildings by early 2026. Vance-Granville Community College is also moving forward with plans to construct an Advanced Manufacturing Center at Triangle North.
The fifteen sites added to the North Carolina SRP are:
For more information about the SRP, read the full report at the EDPNC website https://edpnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SRP-Report-and-Cover-Letter-FINAL-07.01.2024.pdf.
Vance County Names New Economic Development Director
/by WIZS StaffVance County has named Ferdinand A. Rouse as its new Economic Development director.
Rouse has served as coordinator of Raleigh’s Small Business Development Programs and also has been an economic development specialist in Adams County, CO.
He will begin his work with Vance County on Monday, July 15, according to Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Vance County,” Rouse said in a press release received from Perry earlier today (Tuesday).
In addition to his work in Raleigh, Rouse has worked as Minority and Women Business coordinator for the city of Greenville. He has an undergraduate degree from UNC-Charlotte and a master’s degree in business administration from ECU.
He is a certified Economic Developer and is recognized by the International Economic Development Council.
“I am more than thrilled to bring Mr. Rouse on board with the rest of the Vance County team,” Perry stated. “Ferdinand’s education and experience are a perfect fit for our needs right now.”
Wil Short Files For Seat On Soil & Water District Board
/by WIZS StaffOne candidate has filed to run for supervisor of the Vance County Soil & Water Conservation, according to Shelly Wood, deputy director of the Vance County Board of Elections.
The filing period ended at 12 noon on Friday, July 5.
Wil Short filed as a candidate, Wood stated in an email to WIZS News.
The district board is made up of five supervisors, two of which are appointed and three of which are elected.
City Road Center Of Hope Move-In Update
/by WIZS StaffThe new Community Partners of City Road Center of Hope men’s shelter is taking shape, and Director Darryl Jones said they’ve gotten everything into position that they can as they await those final inspections that will give them the green light to officially move in.
There are some doors and partitions that still need to be installed, Jones told WIZS News on Monday.
“We’ve moved all we can right now” Jones said, but there are other ways that folks can help out.
Jones said the shelter needs volunteers, especially for the welcome shift that occurs nightly between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Volunteers also are needed to sign up to provide meals.
Visit cp-hope.org to learn how you can help.
TownTalk: Hicks Serves As Governor’s Page
/by Laura GabelConnor Hicks is a young man with goals and aspirations. As the 17-year-old prepares to begin his senior year at Henderson Collegiate, he’s got his eyes not just on graduation, but on what he’ll be doing after he gets that well-earned diploma.
In order to graduate, Henderson Collegiate requires its seniors to complete a project. Hicks was doing a little online research using resources from school counselors and he came upon something that piqued his interest: the Governor’s Page Program.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity so I applied,” Hicks said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.
He was part of a group of fewer than a dozen others selected to participate in the program during the week just following Memorial Day. He spent May 28-31 in Raleigh and said he got to visit different departments of state government and see how government functions and who’s in charge – from the governor and lieutenant governor on down.
He didn’t get to meet Gov. Roy Cooper, but Hicks said he did learn how to be a better teammate – “how to be a member of a team.”
He may want to review those notes if his post-graduation plans come to fruition as he hopes: if all goes according to plan, Hicks will be joining the U.S. Marines.
“He makes me and his dad both real proud,” said his mother, Margaret. “Since he was about 11 or 12, that’s all he wanted to do – go in the service.”
His dad served in the Navy, he had uncles in the Army and his brother was in the Air Force, but Hicks said he’s got his sights on the Marines.
“It makes me feel like I’m doing something that’s bigger than myself,” he said, adding that he takes pride in knowing that he will be part of a branch of the military service that will defend the United States and its freedoms.
“It makes us really proud that he wants to go and serve his country,” his mother said.
Learn more about the Governor’s Page Program at https://governor.nc.gov/governors-page-program.
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The Local Skinny! Teacher Pay And State Budget
/by WIZS StaffGov. Roy Cooper signed a dozen or so bills into law on Monday, a couple of which involve education and educators. At a time when most area school children – and teachers – are enjoying their summer vacations, Cooper signed into law small pay raises for educators and extended grants to keep childcare centers open at least in the short-term.
In signing Senate Bill 357, Cooper stated that the legislation “provides critical but limited grants to help keep childcare centers open for the next few months.” He said legislators need to do more for parents, businesses and children to extend the grants through 2025 by
“investing in our nationally recognized NC Pre-K and investing more in quality early childhood education. Our children’s future and our economy depend on it,” Cooper stated.
As for Senate Bill 332, Cooper said it “simply restates the small pay raises legislators already gave public school teachers last year.”
Citing North Carolina’s rank of 38 among the 50 states in teacher pay, Cooper said the legislature should be paying teachers “significantly more.” That ranking, coupled with the fact that North Carolina invests nearly $5,000 less per student than the national average, Cooper said North Carolina should spend more for teachers and students. “Our state has the resources to make meaningful investments to help our public school students and now is the time to do it.”
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-09-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Tomatoes
/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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