TownTalk: Bobby West – Grace Ministries

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Grace Ministries has a busy weekend on tap, with an outdoor concert on Friday evening and its annual Family Fun Day on Saturday.

Bobby West invites the community to join in the festivities for both events. The weather forecast is calling for nice weather each day, making conditions just right for what West and others at Grace Ministries has planned.

Texas-based Seventh Day Slumber will bring its Christian rock to the Friday event, West said on Monday’s TownTalk. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the food and beverage concessions will benefit Rushing Water Outreach in Oxford; there is no charge for admission, but donations will be accepted at the gate, West said.

You should bring a lawn chair, but please don’t bring any outside food or beverages, he added.

Seating is first come, first served.

Then on Saturday, come back to Grace Ministries, located on Crozier Street, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to take part in the Family Fun Day. There will be lots of water games, including a slip n’ slide, for the kids to enjoy and hotdogs, watermelon, corn on the cob and more available throughout the day.

Backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed, and West said he hoped to be able to give away between 150 and 200 by the end of the afternoon’s activities.

This weekend is just the beginning of a busy fall and holiday season for Grace Ministries, West said. They have plans to be at the Show, Shine, Shag and Dine in mid-October, and West said it would be a time for he and others to give out supplies and to pray with those who attend the car show.

They’ll be distributing meals across the area the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and then it’s on to the toy giveaway for Christmas.

“It’ll be here before you know it,” he said.

Grace Ministries helps people and families with its program called New Beginnings, designed to provide support for those struggling with addiction or substance abuse.

Whether facing those struggles or other types of challenges, including financial ones, West said it is the mission of Grace Ministries to offer support.

Eleven women recently completed GED programs at Grace Ministries, and West said the new graduates wore caps and gowns to the ceremony to mark the achievement.

There are 49 people enrolled in the next GED program that will begin soon.

Visitwww.graceofhenderson.org to learn more.

 

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The Local Skinny! John Mattocks – Vance Recovery

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John Mattocks, program director at Vance Recovery, told county commissioners the opioid treatment center’s marketing campaign can be a little tough: individuals who are in recovery and beating the addiction odds aren’t usually the ones giving testimonials.

“Our successes are invisible,” Mattocks told commissioners at the Aug. 5 meeting. “All of my failures come with red and blue lights,” he said, referring to involvement with law enforcement and medical personnel.

“We are the gold standard for treatment,” Mattocks said, adding that the 50 percent success rate is “crazy good.”

But Mattocks and his staff at Vance Recovery want to better educate the public about the facility and the programs it offers. Currently operating at its location on Dabney Drive, plans are well underway to move to a state-of-the-art facility at 932 W. Andrews Ave.

“We’re hoping to move by Oct. 1,” Mattocks told WIZS Monday. They’re waiting for one last checkoff from the DEA to make sure the new location is safe and secure for clients and for the community.

As soon as that last inspection is completed, Mattocks said, “we’ll be moving with gangbusters.”

The clinic is moving because it needs more space to provide treatment to clients, he said, adding that Vance Recovery is the only opioid treatment program in the area. They work with other agencies, like Rural Health Group, and Vision Behavioral Health to help connect services to the people who need them.

Vance Recovery is a for-profit business, and just one of numerous clinics owned by Dr. Eric Morse, a nationally acclaimed leader in the field of opioid treatment and recovery programs.

“Every day we are fighting the twin epidemics of opioid use and opioid overdose and death,” he said.

One of the goals is to avoid emergency room visits and legal interventions for people who are in crisis, he said.

He said that without the diversion services that RHA provides, he knows there would be individuals who would have had to be sent to an emergency room for help.

“Right now, it’s a real blessing to our community” to have RHA, he said.

Visit https://www.morseclinics.com/locations/vance-recovery to learn more.

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Cooperative Extension With Wayne Rowland: Mosquito Control

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If April showers bring May flowers, what do deluges from summer storms and hurricanes bring?

Mosquitoes.

Anyone who has ever swatted at those buzzing insects surely will agree that mosquitoes are a nuisance, not to mention unwelcome pests. But in addition to their general peskiness, mosquitoes also transmit diseases to humans and wild and domesticated animals, and Cooperative Extension Technician Wayne Rowland provides several tips to help reduce the mosquito population.

We associate heightened mosquito activity during twilight and nighttime hours, but the state’s most common mosquito – the Asian tiger mosquito – is aggressive during daytime hours.

So what works best for mosquito control?

Rowland recommends an integrated pest management approach, which basically means bundling together a variety of strategies that interrupt the insects’ life cycle.

Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle, but fish and predatory insects like dragonflies do a number on mosquitoes that may be near lakes and ponds.

It’s stagnant, standing water that make the perfect breeding location, so Rowland said it’s a good idea to get rid of containers and old tires – anything that collects water around your yard or property. If you can’t remove the containers, at least tip them over to remove the water after rains, he said.

Cover rain barrels with screening to keep mosquitoes from getting to the water collected in the barrel.

Pesticides may offer relief, but they provide short-term solutions, he added.

pesticides are only a short-term solution.

Visit https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/ to learn more.

 

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Back-To-School Review Of Safety Tips For Students, Motorists

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– information courtesy of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

As schools get back in session over the next couple of weeks, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame reminds the public of some basic safety tips that will help keep schoolchildren safe as they make their way to and from school, whether walking, riding a bike, or by car or school bus.

“I hope that our students have enjoyed their summer vacation, but it is now time to hit the books once again for the school year,” Brame said in a written statement. One way to get the new school year off right is by sharing with young people potential dangers and how to avoid unsafe situations.

Brame also suggests parents check the location sharing settings on their children’s electronic devices before sending them off to school to make sure that their location is not being shared with any unwanted applications. “This is also a great time to remind students of the dangers of sharing personal information on social media. It is important to teach young people that sharing certain information, especially their location, may put them and their classmates at risk,” Brame said.

Other safety tips that parents can share with their children include:

  • Do not talk to strangers! A stranger is anyone that you or your parents do not know well. If a stranger has approached you, tell a trusted adult about what happened.
  • When walking to and from school, always stay with a friend. Two minds are better than one, especially if there is an emergency.
  • If you think you are in danger, yell for help and run to the nearest business, school, crossing guard, or law enforcement officer.
  • Try establishing a family “code word.” If a stranger claims to know your family but does not know the code word, do not go with them.
  • Strangers may use a variety of tricky tactics to get you to come with them, such as:
    • Asking to show you something,
    • Asking for you to help them find a missing pet or person, or
    • Telling you that a family member is hurt and offering to take you to them.
  • If you do not know the person, absolutely do not go with them!
  • Never take things like candy or medicine from a stranger. It could contain a dangerous substance that can harm you.
  • Don’t wear headphones or earbuds while walking so you can hear your surroundings and know if someone is approaching you.

Those big yellow buses will be making their way across the county soon, and motorists should be mindful of the multiple stops that buses make as they pick children up in the morning and drop them off again in the afternoon.

Traffic laws concerning school buses haven’t changed, but it’s always a good idea to refresh your memory to avoid crashes, injury and the citations that come with infractions.

The N.C. Sheriff’s Association reminds drivers to:

  • learn and obey the laws about school buses
  • never pass a stopped school bus – from either direction – when the red light is flashing or the arm is extended
  • children can be unpredictable! always look twice before proceeding
  • be alert to the possibility of children walking in the roadway
  • obey speed limits in school zones

Children who may walk to school should always walk FACING traffic; those who get to and from school on a bicycle, however, should travel with the flow of traffic – wearing a helmet and with no passengers!

Chamber Recruiting Business Members To Join The “Cheer Line” At Aug. 20 VCS Convocation Kick-Off

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Educators from across Vance County Schools will gather at McGregor Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 20 for the district’s Convocation Kick-Off. The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is encouraging all its members to come out to cheer on the district’s teachers as they get ready for the 2024-25 school year.

“Plan to come out, bring some associates/employees with you, line up at McGregor, hold up your company sign, bring your business mascot, and show some loud hometown spirit for our teachers as they arrive on buses from their individual schools,” said Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson.

Individuals from the community and from area businesses should arrive by 8 a.m., Wilkerson said, to line up in the “cheer” line. Teachers will arrive by bus between 8:15 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. The event will begin at 9 a.m.

“The buses will drop off teachers and we would like to have a line of people to celebrate and cheer them on as they enter McGregor,” Wilkerson said. “For our educators to see a line of folks cheering them and celebrating their arrival would definitely be a lot of fun!”

If a business has a mascot, they could certainly dress up – We’re talking to YOU, Pete the Cat, Chick-fil-A cow, Sparky the Fire Dog, Mikey the Shark and any others who we always love to see, she said.

Visitor Spending In Warren Totals $73M In 2023 – Up 10.8 % From 2022

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-information courtesy of Warren County Government

 

Visitor spending in Warren County reached an impressive $73 million in 2023, marking a notable 10.8% increase from the previous year. This exceptional growth rate not only highlights the county’s rising popularity but also positions Warren County as a leader in the state for visitor spending growth.

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2023,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics.

North Carolina as a whole saw total visitor spending of $35.6 billion, underscoring the significant role that Warren County plays within the state’s tourism industry. Warren County’s impressive double-digit increase in visitor spending outpaced the state’s growth percentage, highlighting the county’s successful tourism strategies and its burgeoning status as a sought-after destination.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and the positive impact it has on our community,” said Jennifer Pierce, chair of the Warren County Board of Commissioners. “The increase in visitor spending not only boosts our local economy but also creates jobs and enhances the quality of life for our residents.”

The economic impact of this surge is far-reaching. Visitor spending has created 251 jobs within the community, generating $11.4 million in labor income. Additionally, the local tax base benefited substantially, receiving $3.6 million, which translates into a savings of $293.22 per resident.

According to the impact report, the breakdown of visitor expenditures for 2023 in Warren County includes:

– Lodging: $18.54 million

– Food and Beverage: $21.28 million

– Recreation: $10 million

– Retail: $5.96 million

– Transportation: $16.83 million

 

“We look forward to growing our tourism economy and marketing efforts in Warren County, including launching our Tourism Development Authority and getting our occupancy tax off the ground,” stated Charla Duncan, director of Warren County Community and Economic Development. “Our small business community, including short-term lodging hosts, should be commending for their contribution to these numbers. Their investment is paving the way for future commitment to our county.”

 

To learn more, visit https://www.warrencountync.org/ or  contact Charla Duncan, Warren County Community and Economic Development at 252.257.3115.

TownTalk Around Old Granville: Forgotten Historical Figures, Pt. 2

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Remember Soupy Sales? What about Charlie Briggs?

Both were television stars, before streaming became a preferred way of watching shows certainly before binge watching was a “thing.”

But both men share something else in common: They are both from the area known as “Old Granville County” and were the topic of Thursday’s TownTalk segment of the same name.

Sales, a comedian and variety show performer, hailed from Franklinton and Briggs was from right here in Henderson. His may not be a household name, but viewers of the old TV shows like Bonanza, Maverick and The Sons of Will Sonnet will no doubt recognize his face, said Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room Specialist at the Thornton Library in Oxford.

The local area has produced its share of entertainers over the years – Gerald Alston of the Manhattans, country music songwriter Danny Flowers and Ben E. King, just to name a few.

But there are plenty of noteworthy individuals who achieved stardom of a sort in other endeavors as well, leaving their marks in the area of religion, the military and other segments of society.

Take Henry Haywood Bell, for example. Bell was from Franklin County, and was an admiral in the Union Navy during the Civil War. He was from the South, but when it came time to choose sides, he said he had made an oath to serve the United States, so his allegiance was with the North.

Then there’s Charity Adams Early, who was born in Kittrell. Early was the first African American female Army officer, who rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. Early died in 2002.

Kirkland H. Donald, from Norlina, still serves as a consultant to the U.S. Navy, Pace said. Donald, a Navy admiral, became commander of all the nuclear submarines in the Navy.

Col. Redding F. Perry from Henderson was career military, and served as chief of staff for Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army, Pace said. Perry, who was the uncle of longtime local attorney Bennett Perry, also established the National Guard in the state.

The Wyche family produced numerous members who made significant contributions as well.

Brigadier General Ira Wyche commanded the 79th infantry division during the Normandy invasion of World War II

Mary Lewis Wyche is credited with bringing the first nursing school to the state.  Known as the “Florence Nightingale” of North Carolina, Wyche also was the first trained nurse in North Carolina. She has a historical marker at Highway 39 and Glebe Road in Vance County, near the home where she grew up.

Alice Morgan Person, from Kittrell, contributed to people’s health in a slightly different way, Pace said.

“She was famous for her ‘remedy,’” he said. He’s not sure of all its ingredients, but he knows of one: “I know it contained alcohol.”

 

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