Gill Clopton had a variety of interests – he loved to write and take photographs – but he also was a self-proclaimed archivist who had taken it upon himself to try to preserve local history, one photograph at the time. In doing so, Clopton developed a following of almost 10,000 followers on social media.
Oh, and cats. He loved cats.
News of Clopton’s death was reported today.
Clopton, a 1979 graduate of Vance Senior High School, was not trained as a journalist, but he loved to write. About a year ago, he started an e-paper called “Piedmont Online” to promote positive news, sports and feature stories from Vance County and the surrounding area.
John C. Rose remembered Clopton during Tuesday’s TownTalk as someone whose efforts will be remembered.
“Even if it only exists on a Facebook thread, it’s been preserved,” Rose said, referring to the “Remember when…(reminiscing about Henderson, NC) posts that Clopton used to show long-forgotten photos that he had dug up, many from the former office space of The Daily Dispatch.
“It really underscores what he has done for the community,” Rose said in his discussion with Dr. Bill Dennis, known familiarly as “Little Bill,” whose grandfather started the local paper in the World War I era.
Dennis said, thanks in large part to his father’s and his grandfather’s “pack rat” tendencies, there was a lot of stuff for Clopton to go through.
After the paper was sold and the Chestnut Street building was being emptied, Clopton and several others carted out stacks and stacks of archived newspapers, clippings, photographs and more.
“He went down to the newspaper and talked to the people who were running the place,” Dennis said, and he was able to take possession of all that, well, history.
Clopton “single-handedly” saved so much that would otherwise been discarded
“Gill was tireless,” Dennis said, of his work on digitizing photos from The Dispatch.
As a college student, Dennis spent a couple of summers trying to help get things organized a bit at the paper. Whether Clopton saw the result of that effort is unclear.
And although Clopton never worked at the paper himself, he befriended “Big Bill” Dennis and spent many a happy time talking at the old Eckerd’s lunch counter – a fact that “Little Bill” hadn’t known at the time.
“He was an aspiring newspaper person for a long time,” Dennis said of Clopton. “It was always fascinating to talk to him,” He took photographs and wrote a column for the Henderson Dispatch for a time.
“Some of his columns were great,” Dennis said.
The online publication was a real labor of love, he added. “You just can’t ever do enough when you’re doing something like that.” Dennis said he read each weekly installment. “I thought he did a really good job with it…especially women’s sports because they didn’t get as much publicity as the boys’ (sports).”
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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Potty Training, Pt. 1
/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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Lighting of the Greens, Christmas Parade Dec. 2 In Oxford
/by WIZS StaffOxford’s annual Lighting of the Greens and Christmas parade are set for Friday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.
The deadline to submit applications to participate is Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., according to information from the City of Oxford.
The festivities begin at 4 p.m., with the lighting of the greens at 6:45 p.m., followed by the parade at 7 p.m.
Families are invited to come downtown for ornament making, pictures with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate, performances, food and more.
Participants are responsible for decorating vehicles, tables and booths for the occasion.
Click the links below to complete the application online.
Christmas Parade Participant Application
Lighting of the Greens Application
Free Rabies Clinics In Granville For Cats, Dogs
/by WIZS StaffGranville County Animal Management will host the first of two rabies clinics tomorrow at the North Granville Senior Center in Stovall. The Senior Center is located at 118 U.S. Highway 15 S in Stovall.
Dog and cat owners can bring their pets – dogs on a leash and cats in carriers – from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, according to information from the county animal management department.
A second rabies clinic will take place at Brassfield Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The fire department is located at 1680 NC Highway 96, Franklinton.
One-year doses will be available at the Stovall event, but the clinic at Brassfield FD will offer both one-year and and three-year doses. Pet owners interested in having a three-year dose administered to their dog or cat at the Brassfield event must bring proof of prior vaccination in the form of a paper certificate or official veterinary record.
For more information, please contact the Granville County Animal Shelter at 919.693.6749.
Funding and support for the rabies vaccine clinics is provided by PetcoLove, Granville County Government and the dedicated volunteers that work with the animal shelter.
Duke Heading to Pitt Looking 4th Straight ACC Win
/by WIZS Staff— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS
Duke Bounces Back in the Second Half to Defeat Virginia Tech 24-7
Duke overcame early offensive woes to defeat Virginia Tech and extend its win streak to three.
Duke’s offense, led by sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard, struggled to find a rhythm for most of the first quarter. Their first drive stalled after three plays resulted in a gain of five yards. The Virginia Tech Hokies, on the other hand, got off to a hot start. Their first play went for two yards. Then Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells connected with wide receiver Da’Wain Lofton for an explosive 53-yard score.
Duke’s second offensive series also achieved minimal success. A penalty negated a 17-yard pass, and neither Leonard nor running back Jaquez Moore could find ample room to run. Then Duke managed to flip the script during its third possession.
A 13-yard catch by Duke’s Sahmir Hagans moved the chains for the second time in the first half. Leonard quickly found his footing and picked apart Virginia Tech’s secondary, piecing together an exciting 72-yard offensive drive to set up a 25-yard chip shot for kicker Todd Pelino. Pelino’s field goal was the turning point of the game.
“We responded to a little bit of a slow start and then took control of the game,” said Duke coach Mike Elko.
From then on out, Duke outpaced the Hokies. Duke extended its lead to 10 at the start of the third quarter after Leonard used his long legs and strong upper body to force his way into the end zone.
Duke’s ground game, led by running back Jordan Waters amassed 165 yards on 41 attempts. Leonard picked up a total of 48 yards with his legs. Duke compiled an additional 262 passing yards through four quarters of football with stellar performances from wide receivers Jalon Calhoun and Jontavis Robertson.
In this game, Elko relied on the performance of his dominant defense to secure the win. The unit deflected two passes, forced a turnover, and sacked Wells twice. They also limited Virginia Tech to 4 of 12 on third-down conversions and halted two attempts to convert on fourth down.
“Defensively, our best effort of the year,” said Elko.
What’s next?
Duke (7-4) will travel to Pennsylvania for a matchup against Pittsburgh (6-4). Pittsburgh, on the heels of Duke in the ACC Coastal Conference, is averaging 30 points per game.
TownTalk: GRACE Ministries Thanksgiving Feast
/by Laura GabelBobby West and others at G.R.A.C.E. Ministries will be humming right along on Saturday as they serve up pre-Thanksgiving meals for the community.
The public is welcome to come to the G.R.A.C.E. Ministries location, 215 Crozier St. beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, West said Wednesday on TownTalk.
Volunteers are welcome as well, beginning about 8:30 a.m., when the group will “get prayed up” before beginning the process of fixing about 2,000 plates to feed the community.
“I need about 1,000 plates packed and gone by 10:30,” West told John C. Rose. Several churches are picking up plates that will be distributed all across the county.
Grace Baptist Church, Norlina Baptist, Tungsten Baptist and West End Baptist are helping out in this effort, and New Sandy Creek Baptist is setting up a distribution site at the former Aycock School on Vicksboro Road.
“We have one purpose,” West said, “to serve and show love to our neighbors.”
This is the sixth year that the group has provided a meal before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Individuals who wish to support this ministry can send a check to G.R.A.C.E. Ministries, P.O. Box 316, Henderson, NC 27536.
But stay tuned for other ways to help with upcoming projects like the annual toy drive, he said.
West said G.R.A.C.E. Ministries is partnering with churches in Vance, Warren and Franklin counties this year to conduct its toy drive.
Gently used toys – no plush or stuffed toys, please – will be accepted and the toy distribution will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17. Call West at 252.432.7124 to schedule a donation at his workplace or at G.R.A.C.E. Ministries.
Projects like these are considered a win-win for the community and for the volunteers.
“It’s a humbling experience when you do something good for somebody,” he said.
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Meat Conference Dec. 6 In Rocky Mount
/by WIZS StaffThe Northeast District Local Meats Conference will be held in Rocky Mount, NC on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The conference is designed for individuals interesting in creating or expanding a local meat marketing business.
The conference will begin at 9 a.m. at the East Carolina Livestock Arena, located at 1175 Kingsboro Rd. in Rocky Mount.
Some of the topics that will be discussed include N.C. Department of Agriculture meat handlers’ licensing, as well as rules and regulations, labeling claims and laws about meat sales.
In addition, there will be information about carcass evaluation, and planning, marketing and pricing.
Lunch will be included. Pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northeast-district-local-meats-conference-tickets-419613434077
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-16-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Farm-City Week 2022
/by Laura GabelThere’s no debate that agriculture plays an important role in our lives – whether we are the farmers responsible for growing the crops, livestock and commodities that make their way into the food chain or whether we are the consumers of those products.
Producers and consumers gathered at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market Tuesday for a luncheon as part of the annual observance of Farm-City Week, sponsored by NC Farm Bureau and the local N.C. Cooperative Extension.
“We had a great day,” said Paul McKenzie, horticulture agent in Vance and Warren counties. McKenzie recapped Tuesday’s events on WIZS Wednesday during the weekly cooperative extension segment of The Local Skinny!
One local producer was honored for his 25 years as a vendor with the farmers market.
Calvin Adcock has followed the farmers market to its various locations over the years – from humble beginnings on William Street to the YMCA and city operations center to the current location.
Adcock has been bringing fresh produce from his raised garden beds and home canned products to the farmers market, and “quickly developed a reputation for selling quality products,” McKenzie said.
“He is one of the hardest working vendors,” said Wayne Rowland, who also noted that Adcock was honored as Vance County’s Small Farmer of the Year in 2016.
“If you have been to the farmers market, you will see him most every day that the market is open,” Rowland continued. In addition to his devotion to the farmers market, Adcock also has helped the cooperative extension and other producers through his participation on the Small Farms Advisory Council and the Farmers Market Advisory Council.
“He is a wonderful person to work with,” Rowland said.
McKenzie said in written remarks that Adcock “has shown fierce loyalty and dedication to the market, showing up consistently with a warm smile and a good selection of products.”
The guest speaker for the luncheon was Jake Parker, legislative counsel and NC Farm Bureau’s legislative director. Parker discussed the work that Farm Bureau does on behalf of farmers, as well as some of the big issues facing agriculture.
The Farm Bureau provides insurance for farmers, but it does so much more as an advocacy and a community organization, McKenzie said.
“The Vance County Farm Bureau has done an unparalleled job in supporting the community,” he said, from providing equipment to Vance Charter School’s ag program to scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College and more.
As rural areas face increased development, farmers also can face complaints from new neighbors who feel their lives are being disrupted by the dust, sounds and smells that sometimes are created on farms as farmers plant, cultivate and harvest crops.
Parker, in his work with Farm Bureau, strives to protect farmers against nuisance lawsuits to create reasonable policies “to help farmers continue to make a living and continue to produce the food supply that we need,” McKenzie said.
Finding and maintaining positive relationships between farmers and nearby neighbors is critical, he added.
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TownTalk: Oxendine Is A New Face On School Board
/by Laura GabelThe Vance County Board of Education will feature two new faces following last week’s midterm elections – Omega T. Perry and Randy Oxendine.
Perry is the pastor at Cook’s Chapel AME Zion Church and has a Sunday morning program on WIZS.
Perry ran unopposed for the school board seat, and Oxendine won the District 2 seat over his opponent Charlie Baskerville, Jr. When Oxendine’s wife, Darlynn, decided not to seek another term on the school board, her husband decided to take a crack at it.
When he spoke with WIZS News during last Tuesday evening’s election coverage, Oxendine, himself a longtime educator with Vance County Schools, said he felt like he already has established a relationship with existing board members and looks forward to his new role as board member.
“I believe I’m just stepping in and rolling with it,” he told John C. Rose about his election victory.
Of particular concern to him is the diminishing enrollment in three elementary schools in District 2 – New Hope, E.O. Young and Carver. Lower enrollments mean that teachers like the physical education teachers, for example, must travel among the three schools for their instruction.
“I would love to see more students (at these schools so) we could get more money to provide full time people at those schools,” Oxendine said.
Over their years in education, Oxendine said he and his wife have seen many high school students head off to college, where some play sports and get recognized for their efforts. One former student invited the couple recently to attend her induction into the N.C. A&T State Hall of Fame.
He said he would like to institute some type of hall of fame for Vance County, where students and athletes could be recognized for their outstanding talent and effort, “so younger people would have someone to look up to.”
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TownTalk: Gill Clopton Remembered
/by Laura GabelGill Clopton had a variety of interests – he loved to write and take photographs – but he also was a self-proclaimed archivist who had taken it upon himself to try to preserve local history, one photograph at the time. In doing so, Clopton developed a following of almost 10,000 followers on social media.
Oh, and cats. He loved cats.
News of Clopton’s death was reported today.
Clopton, a 1979 graduate of Vance Senior High School, was not trained as a journalist, but he loved to write. About a year ago, he started an e-paper called “Piedmont Online” to promote positive news, sports and feature stories from Vance County and the surrounding area.
John C. Rose remembered Clopton during Tuesday’s TownTalk as someone whose efforts will be remembered.
“Even if it only exists on a Facebook thread, it’s been preserved,” Rose said, referring to the “Remember when…(reminiscing about Henderson, NC) posts that Clopton used to show long-forgotten photos that he had dug up, many from the former office space of The Daily Dispatch.
“It really underscores what he has done for the community,” Rose said in his discussion with Dr. Bill Dennis, known familiarly as “Little Bill,” whose grandfather started the local paper in the World War I era.
Dennis said, thanks in large part to his father’s and his grandfather’s “pack rat” tendencies, there was a lot of stuff for Clopton to go through.
After the paper was sold and the Chestnut Street building was being emptied, Clopton and several others carted out stacks and stacks of archived newspapers, clippings, photographs and more.
“He went down to the newspaper and talked to the people who were running the place,” Dennis said, and he was able to take possession of all that, well, history.
Clopton “single-handedly” saved so much that would otherwise been discarded
“Gill was tireless,” Dennis said, of his work on digitizing photos from The Dispatch.
As a college student, Dennis spent a couple of summers trying to help get things organized a bit at the paper. Whether Clopton saw the result of that effort is unclear.
And although Clopton never worked at the paper himself, he befriended “Big Bill” Dennis and spent many a happy time talking at the old Eckerd’s lunch counter – a fact that “Little Bill” hadn’t known at the time.
“He was an aspiring newspaper person for a long time,” Dennis said of Clopton. “It was always fascinating to talk to him,” He took photographs and wrote a column for the Henderson Dispatch for a time.
“Some of his columns were great,” Dennis said.
The online publication was a real labor of love, he added. “You just can’t ever do enough when you’re doing something like that.” Dennis said he read each weekly installment. “I thought he did a really good job with it…especially women’s sports because they didn’t get as much publicity as the boys’ (sports).”
CLICK PLAY!