Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Small Greenhouse

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Interested in starting your springtime vegetable plants from seed or propagating plants from cuttings? A small backyard greenhouse might be just the thing to help you achieve those goals.

Wayne Rowland, technician with Vance County’s Cooperative Extension service, reports that constructing a backyard greenhouse may be simpler than you’d think.

With some simple hand tools and some basic knowledge of construction, it’s not that difficult, Rowland said during on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

All the materials can be purchased from most building supply stores, he said, from PVC pipe to the clear plastic sheeting used to cover the frame.

As for site selection, you’ll want a level spot that has good drainage. If you’re mainly interested in plant propagation – growing plants from cuttings of other plants – it’s best to place the structure in partial shade, such as on the north side of a large, deciduous tree.

For growing plants from seeds or for growing plants to maturity, it’s best to choose a site that has maximum sun exposure. You can always use a shade cloth to control the amount of sunlight, he added.

As for the frame of the greenhouse, treated lumber will hold up longer than untreated wood. But don’t use lumber treated with creosote, which could leech into the ground and then get into the plants.

If you don’t have a perfectly level spot for the greenhouse, Rowland said it’s better to dig a trench on the high side of the site instead of trying to build up the low side to ensure that the foundation boards are level.

The PVC pipe will be used for the uprights and overhead “ribs” that give the greenhouse shape. Use simple metal clamps to fit the pipe ends onto the wooden frame and tighten to ensure a solid fit. Stretch the clear sheeting over the frame and you’re done!

For more information, call 252.438.8188.

 

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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Sossamon Sworn In As Dist. 32 Rep In N.C. House

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Frank Sossamon was sworn in last week as the new legislator representing Vance and Granville counties in the N.C. House before an audience of supporters in the lobby of McGregor Hall.

The Hon. John Dunlow administered the oath of office following remarks from county officials representing the local county commissions and chairmen of the Republican party.

Sossamon defeated incumbent Terry Garrison in the November mid-term elections. He had an official swearing-in on Wednesday in Raleigh.

In comments during the ceremony in Henderson earlier in the week, Sossamon recounted how he reached the decision to put throw his hat into the proverbial ring.

“The Lord used my own words against me,” Sossamon quipped, explaining that he told his church members to “be that somebody” to make change.

“I became that somebody,” Sossamon said. “I’m in it to serve the people.”

The retired pastor of South Henderson Pentecostal Church, Sossamon said he is going to have to “work hard and work fast and work smart” to get things done in Raleigh in his two-year term.

“Under my watch, I want us to be able to say that District 32 is one of the most prosperous districts” in the state; he said it currently ranks among the poorest districts.

He wants to focus on community development in both counties, which he said would have the side effects of decreasing crime, increasing educational opportunities and give young people hope.

“If we want company to come, we’ve got to clean up our house,” he said.

In an interview with WIZS News following the swearing-in, Sossamon said he looks forward to serving the people in District 32 to get some things done, and he said he will challenge the citizens he represents to join him in the effort.

$25,000 Reward Offered For Information About 2018 Homicide

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A $25,000 reward is being offered by the state of North Carolina for information about an almost five-year-old unsolved murder in Vance County.

Gov. Roy Cooper’s office made the announcement Thursday in connection with the death of 22-year-old De’Cedric Tyquon Alston.

In the late evening hours of Feb. 22, 2018, Alston was shot multiple times while driving his vehicle near the 1100 block of Warrenton Road in Henderson. He was transported to the hospital and later died from his injuries.

Anyone having information concerning this case should contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or the State Bureau of Investigation at 919.662.4500.

SportsTalk: Mike Joyner on KVA Athletics

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As an athletic director Mike Joyner of Kerr Vance Academy stays busy overseeing all of the sports his school provides to students. In addition to that there are tournaments that also are part of the school’s athletics.  Over the recent holiday period KVA hosted a basketball tournament with Oak Forest winning the men’s’ championship and Brunswick Academy in Virginia taking the girls’ title. “We hoped we could have done a little better,” Joyner says of KVA. “We are very young. We start a lot of 9th and 10th graders,” Joyner added.  The boys’ team did win this week over Wake Prep while the girls lost.

Joyner says it’s great to have a team like Wake Prep to play since they are close by in Youngsville.  The KVA conference schedule requires longer trips to Rocky Mount and to Greenville, and Kerr Vance is just about to start the bulk of its conference play. The travel means kids miss some classes which can be difficult on students and teachers.

In addition to basketball, Joyner says the school’s swim team has an upcoming meet next week and will soon be hosting travel volleyball tournaments bringing in some extra cash for the school and exciting games.

Additionally, KVA is gearing up to celebrate the 2003 State Baseball Championship team.  “We are looking to hold an alumni game between the 2003 team and the current team,” Joyner said. No details for that have been set but should be forthcoming soon.

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Warren County Parks and Rec. Dept. Offers Winter Art Class Jan. 21

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Join the Warren County Parks and Recreation’s “Winter Art Time” program at John Graham Gym on Saturday, Jan. 21 and take home your own artwork. This free program provides all supplies needed to paint a pre-printed winter art canvas and is a perfect activity for beginning painters and any others interested in putting paint to canvas.

The 9 a.m. class is open to adults only, but the 10:30 a.m. class is open to youth and adults.

Space is limited and registrations are being taken through Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Participants may register online at  www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation or they can stop by the parks and rec office in Warrenton between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The office is located at located at 113 Wilcox Street. Call 252.257.2272 for more information.

The parks and recreation staff welcomes volunteers for this and other programs. Please submit a volunteer application and background check online at www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation.

Oxford Prep School

SportsTalk: Oxford Prep Athletics With John Hammett

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John Hammett patrolled the football sidelines as a head coach for many years but the former JF Webb coach now finds being athletic director at a small school such as Oxford Prep to be quite satisfying.  Even though there are aspects of being a football coach that he misses, one of the reasons he made the change was it began to become more like work.

Being a football coach meant Hammett had to deal with injuries, something he says Oxford Prep takes very seriously. “You have to teach players differently about how to deal with injuries.  The more education the better,” Hammett says. “Athletes have to be honest,” according to Hammett. That’s hard he says because the kids are competitive and don’t want to miss any time on the field or the court.

According to Hammett, Oxford Prep is becoming more competitive on the basketball court.  After a slow start, the school won a big rivalry game last week over Eno River.

So while Hammett may not be patrolling the sidelines of a football field, Oxford Prep’s AD position seems to be working out for him. “It’s nice, because it’s small,” Hammett summed up.

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TownTalk: Joe Bonsall Of The Oak Ridge Boys

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The legendary quartet known as the Oak Ridge Boys will take the stage at McGregor Hall later this month for a concert filled with some of their most popular songs, from old-time Gospel favorites to the iconic “oom-pah-pah-mao-mao” hit “Elvira.”

Tickets for the Saturday, Jan. 28 show are available now at www.mcgregorhall.org. The show begins at 7 p.m.

Bill Harris spoke by phone Thursday with Joe Bonsall, who has been with the group close to 50 years. At 74, he’s the “baby” of the group; Duane Allen and Richard Sterban are both 79 and William Lee Golden – “the guy with the beard,” Bonsall said, is 84 years young.

First known as the “Georgia Clodhoppers,” the group was originally formed in 1943 – during World War II, to put it into historical context.

Over the years, the quartet has seen dozens of members come and go, but these four have been together for a good while, enjoying about half a century of producing music and touring as The Oak Ridge Boys.

“We we bring more history to the stage than any other act in the business,” Bonsall told WIZS’s Bill Harris during Thursday’s TownTalk. “We love finding new songs and we love singing the old stuff,” he said. And as long as the four vocalists are able to sing together and create a good sound, he said he hopes they keep right on touring. They may dial back their normal 150-shows-a-year rate back to 120 or so this year, but that’s no big deal.

“Right now, we’re excited about this year,” Bonsall said.

Whether they’re performing at fairs, festivals or smaller venues like the 1,000-seat McGregor Hall, Bonsall said the group just enjoys performing together.

“We love what we do – we love each other,” he explained. “I enjoy putting on a show…I don’t care where it is,” he added. Their attitude is “let’s go sing.”

And sing they will for the audience at McGregor Hall. The set list may change a bit from show to show, but expect some of their standards like “Elvira” and “The Y’all Come Back Saloon.” And for sure they’ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of “American Made,” he said. They won’t turn their backs on their Gospel roots either and listeners surely will enjoy some cuts from the “Front Porch Singing” album, released in 2021.

 

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Vending Machines Dispense Books For Elementary Students To Enjoy

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A special type of vending machine has been placed at L.B. Yancey Elementary, the contents of which will help students add to their personal stash of books.

The vending machine dispenses chapter books, graphic novels, easy readers and more, and students need only to insert golden tokens to make their selection.

Vance County Schools and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday morning to launch the program, which will soon place “Inchy the Bookworm” vending machines in the other nine elementary schools within the Vance County Schools district.

Children receive the golden tokens as a reward for positive behavior, and they can choose from a diverse selection of books for readers on different grade levels, according to information from VCS Communication Coordinator Brielle Barrow.

“We are so grateful to have an opportunity to support students with building their home library”, said L.B. Yancey Principal Dr. Shannon Bullock. “We encourage our students to read at home and having the book vending machine makes it possible for students to read a variety of books that interest them.”

The vending machines and their contents were purchased by VCS as part of its literacy initiative to encourage reading and building student’s personal libraries.

“I’m excited for the book vending machine! This is such an innovative way to instill the love of reading throughout our building,” said Principal Letitia Fields of New Hope Elementary.

Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine, developed by Global Vending Group, can hold up to 300 books. The book vending machine will be refilled regularly with graphic novels, chapter books and easy readers to meet the varying needs of individual students.

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Youth Leadership Council Ensures Young People’s Voices Are Heard

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Sixteen Granville County high school students have been selected to serve on the Youth Leadership Council for 2022-23.

The council works with the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the local cooperative extension service to ensure that youth are represented as county leaders make decisions, according to Charissa Puryear, county extension director.

“The purpose of this council is to ensure that youth in the community have a voice, but most importantly, that their voices are heard, recognized and valued, “ Puryear said in a press release. The youth council members will learn leadership skills through service on selected county board, outreach activities, youth-led projects and other initiatives.

The group meets on the second Saturday of the month.

The new term began with a planning retreat and orientation in November at Camp Oak Hill, during which time they learned more about the council’s role in general and their roles as members.

They crafted a mission statement for the council, which reads: “The mission of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council is to provide representation, opportunities and direct connections for Granville County youth by support and amplifying youth voices and focusing on causes that affect our peers and us through education, resources, activities, community outreach, and partnerships.”

To learn more, contact the cooperative extension office at 919.603.1350 or email granvilleylc@gmail.com.

Following is a list of the new council members, the districts they represent and their roles on the council:

Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 

Carissa Jackson-Rodriguez, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 3 

Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 

Chloe Hernandez, Social Event Chair, Board Liaison, District 1 

Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Morocco Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Annie Drake, Board Liaison, District 2 

Elijah Griffin, Board Liaison, District 1 

Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

Iesha Landis, Board Liaison, District 6 

Amber Necessary, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Board Liaison, District 3 

Brodie Winborne, Board Liaison, District 1