What candidate would be able to satisfy – exceed, even – the qualifications for a job description that could read something like this:
Enthusiastic, motivated individual needed for full-time position. Work includes night meetings, weekend catchup and early morning events. Constant desire to make improvements in the community. People-person skills a must.
That wouldn’t be the easiest job to fill, but that’s just what Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce leaders are faced with, following the announcement that President Michele Burgess is retiring at year’s end.
Burgess possesses all those qualifications, and then some. And though she said she will miss the people she’s had the pleasure to work alongside since July 2019, she said she looks forward to having more family time – especially with two young grandchildren.
She spoke with WIZS News Friday about her previous Chamber experience – all with the local office. You see, this is her third time back. She previously held the job in the mid-1980’s and then again in the mid-1990’s.
“When it’s your hometown, you’re so passionate about it,” Burgess said. She returned in 2019 with the idea that it would be a short-term role. She said the Chamber underwent a bit of a restructure “to try to make it work a little bit better. And we were on this big roll,” she continued. Until COVID-19.
Members sought advice from Chamber officials about how to follow pandemic protocols, she said. “I feel like we did a really good job” of answering questions and keeping businesses and employees safe.
The pandemic has changed the way many organizations operate, and the Chamber is no exception. Burgess said today’s businesses may need different things from their Chamber membership, such as virtual meetings and networking events that target particular professions.
“It’s just a different world,” Burgess said.
When she leaves the office at the end of December, she said she leaves on a good note – the Chamber is functioning at a high level, and Burgess said she feels comfortable stepping down at this time.
Current Chamber Board Chair Ronald Bennett was on the board when Burgess was selected to lead the chamber most recently.
“She’s one that has her job at heart and the people at heart,” Bennett said by phone Thursday. “I can’t say enough good about what all she’s done,” he added.
A search committee is already formed to look for her successor, Bennett noted, adding that the board would be looking for additional volunteers to serve on this committee as well.
Burgess praised the Chamber board for all the support it has given her over the last few years and said she would miss those relationships. “When you have real strong leaders, you’re real thankful,” she said.
Burgess said she will continue to participate in different ways to help her community after she retires.
“I’m still going to be in the Chamber, still going to volunteer and participate,” Burgess said.
Just maybe between visits to see the grandchildren.
Henderson City Clerk Retiring After 12 Years
/by WIZS StaffHenderson City Clerk Esther McCrackin is retiring effective Monday, Oct. 31 after 12 years of service to the city in that role.
Mayor Eddie Ellington called her a “mother figure” to all who work at City Hall who, with “grit and grace” showed her passion for the city. She kept everyone on the right track, “sometimes being tough but always from the heart, never losing sight of the ‘mission at hand,’” he said.
Ellington reflected on the first day he met McCrackin. “I knew right away her devotion and the expectations of me,” he said in a statement to WIZS News Monday. “Back in 2015, coming in as a new mayor of the city and still to this day being no different, she has always been a voice of reason, offering encouragement and guidance, while keeping the wheels turning. She was the calm in many storms and in times of much needed support. She believed in me and reminded me not to govern on emotion but by policy and procedure,” he said.
Now, seven years later, Ellington said McCrackin is “a remarkable lady and I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her.”
City Manager Terrell Blackmon said Monday that McCrackin was a valuable staff member. “I was honored to work with her my first three years here as manager,” Blackmon said in an email.
Blackmon said since the clerk is appointed by the City Council, he has been directed by the mayor and council to advertise the position for 30 days to both internal and external candidates. “After the job closing date, the HR director and I will vet those applications and make recommendations of two to three finalists that the council will interview and then ultimately make an appointment,” Blackmon explained.
FLVF Candlelight Vigil Oct. 27 To Remember Victims, Survivors Of Domestic Violence
/by WIZS StaffFamilies Living Violence Free presents a domestic violence candlelight vigil on Thursday, Oct. 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The community is invited to participate in the vigil, as FLVF honors those who have lost their lives to domestic violence as well as those survivors in the community, according to information from FLVF Executive Director Peggy Roark.
FLVF is located at 211 W. Antioch Dr., in the Georgia Henrahand Cottage on the campus of Central Children’s Home, in Oxford.
Visit www.flvf.org or call 919.693.3579 to learn more.
TownTalk: Huggins To Appear As Ariel At McGregor Hall
/by Laura GabelAs opening night approaches for McGregor Hall’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Victoria Huggins may be the first to say she’s leading a charmed life.
After all, she’s been preparing for the lead role of Ariel in the upcoming stage performance, but that’s not an unfamiliar place for her to be in – she also portrayed Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” which ran at McGregor Hall in 2018. And she wore a crown in real life just a few years ago, when she was Miss North Carolina.
Huggins spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk and said she is thrilled to be back at McGregor Hall performing in another Disney classic.
Tickets are available at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ for the six performances Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 4-6. Tickets for a special event for young people, “Under the Sea,” also are available. That event will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at McGregor Hall. Tickets are limited, so make your purchase soon!
Schoolchildren from across the state will get first peek at the show with two performances on Thursday – both of which are sold out, Huggins said.
“For some, it will be their first theatrical performance,” she said of the audiences that will be entertained on Thursday.
Ariel will be at Chick-fil-A in Henderson on Tuesday, Nov. 1 for a meet-and-greet of sorts, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. No purchase is necessary, and children will have a chance to have their pictures taken with the beloved Disney mermaid.
For Huggins, the chance to play a second Disney protagonist has been nothing short of magical.
“I have admired these characters my entire life,” she said. Like so many other young boys and girls, Huggins said she learned wonderful life lessons from watching Ariel and Belle – “they continue to teach us as we become adults,” she said.
Everybody loves Ariel for so many reasons, Huggins explained. “She was courageous to follow her dreams…we all relate to her,” she said.
Huggins was Miss North Carolina in 2017-18 and she said that she recently completed her master’s degree from UNC-Pembroke debt-free because of the scholarships she received.
She now works for the NC Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, her own dream being realized because she is turning a passion into a career. Huggins is keenly interested in the influence of music and the therapeutic effect it has on Alzheimers patients.
Call the McGregor Hall box office at 252.598.0662 to learn more.
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Granville Animal Shelter’s Schedule Changing To Better Meet Needs Of Public
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of Granville County
The Granville County Animal Shelter will transition to a new schedule beginning Tuesday, Nov. 1 to better serve the public during the highly in-demand weekend hours and allow additional time for animal care, cleaning and training during the week.
The new public operating hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. The shelter will be closed to the public on Sunday and Monday. The shelter is located off NC 96 at 515 New Commerce Dr. in Oxford.
The shelter’s operating hours are when the public may come to meet adoptable animals, have vaccines administered or surrender animals. As is the case now, Animal Control Officers answer calls for service even when the shelter is not open and the new hours will have no effect on this service.
“This new schedule will allow additional hours on Saturday for our critical public-facing services like allowing folks to come in to meet our adoptable animals,” said Animal Management Director Matt Katz. “We have consistently heard from the public that Saturdays are the easiest time to get the entire family to the shelter so that they can make these adoption decisions together. Animal Management staff will still man the phones at the shelter on Mondays during business hours and our Animal Control Officers are ready and able to answer calls for ervice to protect the animals and citizens of Granville County at all times.”
For more information about the Granville County Animal Shelter and services offered by Animal Management, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/granville-county-animal management/.
The Local Skinny! Granville Co. Beekeepers Are Abuzz With Events
/by Laura GabelChristina Henthorn stays as busy as the proverbial bee, and this weekend she and fellow bee enthusiasts are putting on a couple of events that will serve several purposes, not the least of which is to provide the community with some great entertainment.
Bring the family to a free event on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Highrock Farm, located just outside Oxford on Enon Road, for the inaugural “Bees and Boos.” This event features outdoor games and trick-or-treating for the children and more than 30 vendors and other activities sure to please. There will be a table set up where tickets may be purchased, which creates a carnival-like atmosphere, she said.
There will be freshly pressed cider and a do-it-yourself candy apple station, thanks to a generous donation of apples from Moore’s Produce in Stovall, Henthorn said.
The first part of the Saturday doubleheader is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., she told John C. Rose on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
The Lord Granville Association will bring its locally famous hit-or-miss ice cream maker and the Model A Car Club will wheel in some of its vehicles for folks to admire.
The second part of this double feature begins at 6 p.m. with a costume party and concert by Nashville recording artist Zach Top. This kicks off what Henthorn hopes will become an annual “Hum of the Hive” concert series.
Not interested in wearing a costume? No problem, Henthorn noted. “Costume or not, everyone is welcome,” she said. Honey Girl Meadery will bring their mead, which is like honey wine, and a local brewery will bring a beer made with Granville County honey.
“This is not a 21 and over show,” Henthorn said of the evening event, but ID will be checked at the door.
“All proceeds go to N.C. State’s endowment for honeybee research,” she said, adding that the university conducts world-renown research on the little pollinators. Beekeeper associations across the state are helping to raise funds to establish an endowment to ensure that NCSU continues its apiary work.
Can’t make it to the event but want to contribute? Again, not a problem.
“We want to involve everyone around the state,” Henthorn said. “If you can’t make it, you can buy a ticket for a veteran.” Any tickets purchased for veterans will be taken to a military history event being held at the Henderson-Oxford airport Saturday, where they will be donated.
The Granville County Beekeepers, known for its summertime Bee Jubilee, is branching out to create a fall event that focuses on the importance of bees in everyday life. The honeybee was named North Carolina’s official State Insect in 1973 because of its critical role in pollination of the variety of crops produced in the state.
“Raising awareness is just as important” as fundraising, Henthorn said. But she says this weekend’s emphasis is on the “fun” part of fundraising.
Visit Granville County Beekeepers Facebook or the Visit Granville County tourism page to find out all the details.
And visit https://www.ncbeekeepers.org/ to learn more about the endowment.
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Discolored Water? Simple Fix For City Customers
/by WIZS Staff– Courtesy of the City of Henderson:
City crews have repaired a water leak on Ruin Creek Road which may result in some households and businesses experiencing a discoloration of water from taps and spigots.
According to information Monday from the City of Henderson, simply allowing the water to run for a period should clear up any discoloration.
If this does not correct the problem, city water customers should call 252.431.6030 to make a report.
For more information, contact the Public Services Department at 252.431.6030.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 10-24-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Feeding Meat Goats
/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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Burgess Stepping Down From Chamber In December
/by Laura GabelWhat candidate would be able to satisfy – exceed, even – the qualifications for a job description that could read something like this:
Enthusiastic, motivated individual needed for full-time position. Work includes night meetings, weekend catchup and early morning events. Constant desire to make improvements in the community. People-person skills a must.
That wouldn’t be the easiest job to fill, but that’s just what Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce leaders are faced with, following the announcement that President Michele Burgess is retiring at year’s end.
Burgess possesses all those qualifications, and then some. And though she said she will miss the people she’s had the pleasure to work alongside since July 2019, she said she looks forward to having more family time – especially with two young grandchildren.
She spoke with WIZS News Friday about her previous Chamber experience – all with the local office. You see, this is her third time back. She previously held the job in the mid-1980’s and then again in the mid-1990’s.
“When it’s your hometown, you’re so passionate about it,” Burgess said. She returned in 2019 with the idea that it would be a short-term role. She said the Chamber underwent a bit of a restructure “to try to make it work a little bit better. And we were on this big roll,” she continued. Until COVID-19.
Members sought advice from Chamber officials about how to follow pandemic protocols, she said. “I feel like we did a really good job” of answering questions and keeping businesses and employees safe.
The pandemic has changed the way many organizations operate, and the Chamber is no exception. Burgess said today’s businesses may need different things from their Chamber membership, such as virtual meetings and networking events that target particular professions.
“It’s just a different world,” Burgess said.
When she leaves the office at the end of December, she said she leaves on a good note – the Chamber is functioning at a high level, and Burgess said she feels comfortable stepping down at this time.
Current Chamber Board Chair Ronald Bennett was on the board when Burgess was selected to lead the chamber most recently.
“She’s one that has her job at heart and the people at heart,” Bennett said by phone Thursday. “I can’t say enough good about what all she’s done,” he added.
A search committee is already formed to look for her successor, Bennett noted, adding that the board would be looking for additional volunteers to serve on this committee as well.
Burgess praised the Chamber board for all the support it has given her over the last few years and said she would miss those relationships. “When you have real strong leaders, you’re real thankful,” she said.
Burgess said she will continue to participate in different ways to help her community after she retires.
“I’m still going to be in the Chamber, still going to volunteer and participate,” Burgess said.
Just maybe between visits to see the grandchildren.
Drew Cummings Sworn In As Granville’s New County Manager
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville County board of commissioners officially welcomed new county manager Drew Cummings this week, following a swearing-in ceremony and oath of office at the Monday board meeting.
Chairman Tony Cozart administered the oath of office, and Cummings had wife Amy and children at his side. Cummings had spent the past 14 years as Durham’s assistant county manager and chief of staff. Before that, he held several positions in municipal government and had been a middle school teacher for seven years before beginning a career in local government.
Doug Logan had served as interim manager since July 29, following the resignation of Michael Felts.
During his tenure in Durham County, Cummings focused on a wide range of issues including economic development, education, transportation, affordable housing and homelessness. He has been a member of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as well as the North Carolina City and County Managers Association since 2004. Cummings achieved his ICMA Credentialed Manager status in 2021 and also is a graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy, participating in the 2015 cohort.
He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government. He got a master’s degree in public policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children (Webb, Isa, and Doran) and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.