G.R.A.C.E. Ministries is a beehive of activity this week, and there’s still time for children ages 4-16 to show up for one more day of a summertime fine arts and enrichment camp at the 961 Burr St. location.
Jamie Elliott said he appreciates the help from Deborah Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for her help with the camp, which began Wednesday and continues through Friday. Elliott told John C. Rose that children are welcome to join in the activities – just come to the church by 10:45 a.m. or so and get checked in, he said.
“It’s been a blessing to see kids come in from the community,” Elliott said on Thursday’s Town Talk.
Then on Saturday, the whole family is invited to come back to G.R.A.C.E. Ministries for Family Day – there will be food, games and more, Elliott said. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will include a backpack giveaway while supplies last. Local churches donated school supplies for the backpack giveaway, he said.
— Click Play below to listen —
Children can enjoy playing basketball and soccer during the day, and there will be a slip-n-slide as well. “It’s not just for kids,” Elliott said, “it’s for all ages.” Even adults need to take some time every now and then to loosen up, he added.
In addition to the weekend activities at G.R.A.C.E. Ministries, Elliott said organizers are planning an Addiction and Support Rally to help show the community – especially those who may be in the grips of substance abuse – that “there’s a better way than drugs.”
The inaugural event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Burr Street location, and will include local agencies and representatives who can help provide resources and information about recovery and about the danger of drugs in the community.
There will be guest speakers who will share their testimonies and their path to recovery, Elliott said, to educate people about drug abuse and to help addicts “see that it’s not the way to go.”
When a person gives their testimonial and shares their story about overcoming addiction, Elliott said, it gives others “the strength to overcome it, too. If that person can do this, maybe I can, too,” he said. But more important than sharing their personal stories, Elliott said the rally is designed to show how Jesus Christ has changed their lives. “Our mission is to reach addicts, those in recovery and their families,” he said.
If your organization would like to participate or set up a booth, contact Elliott 252.204 3617 or Danny Satterwhite at 252.425.3620.
To learn more about the after-school program on Mondays and Tuesdays, contact Bobby West at 252.432.7124.
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Woody Ornamental Problems
/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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Vance County at Warren County 20-16 Vipers Victory WIZS Audio
/by John C. RoseWIZS 1450 / 100.1 – You’re Community Voice for News and Sports
Final Score
Vance County 20
Warren County 16
Vance Vipers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds to play
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MPH Welcomes Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Mark Messner
/by WIZS StaffMaria Parham Health Friday announced that Mark Messmer, DO MS has joined its staff and will be offering orthopedic surgical services to patients in Henderson, Vance County and the surrounding region. Messmer comes from a military background and joins Maria Parham from his previous position as staff orthopedic surgeon at Camp Lejeune, according to a press statement from Donna Young, marketing & communication coordinator for MPH.
While at Lejeune, Messner’s patients were primarily active-duty personnel with the Marines and Navy with a variety of sports-related injuries and trauma. He specializes in sports, trauma, arthroplasty and general orthopedics, and becomes the second new orthopedic provider to join Maria Parham Health as the hospital continues to grow its orthopedic and surgical services.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Messmer to Henderson to practice at Maria Parham Health,” said CEO Bert Beard. “Orthopedic surgery is a growing need in our community, and Dr. Messmer’s training and military surgical background have given him a great breadth of experience in a wide range of procedures that people in our region need. This expertise will be important as Maria Parham Health works to make our community healthier.”
Messmer was graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of science degree in human biology. He has a master’s degree in medical education and holds a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Messmer, a member of the American Osteopathic Association of Orthopedics and the American Osteopathic Association, is scheduling patients at Maria Parham Orthopaedics. To schedule an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS.
Two GCPS Students Complete Apprenticeship Program
/by WIZS StaffTwo Granville County Public School graduates have completed requirements of the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program.
Jared Gladki, a graduate of South Granville High, completed his apprenticeship at Revlon in Oxford. Jacob Ganzzermiller, a graduate of Granville Central High, completed his apprenticeship program at Buhler Aeroglide in Raleigh.
The two were recognized at a ceremony on Monday, Aug. 15, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne. Gladki completed a two-year degree in mechatronics at Vance-Granville Community College and Ganzzermiller completed at two-year degree in mechanical engineering technology at Wake Tech. Both students participated in a work-based training program with their respective companies; the apprenticeships come with the promise of a full-time, high-skilled job in local manufacturing companies.
The apprenticeship program is a partnership between GCPS, VGCC, Wake Tech, NCTAP and local industries. High school students apply for and enroll in a fast-track program to complete their college engineering coursework – tuition free – while they work. The candidates who complete the apprenticeship are then offered full-time employment at their training sites and get a significant jump start on their career in advanced manufacturing, Winborne said.
GCPS Career Development Coordinator Tamara Rodebaugh attended the graduation ceremony and acknowledged the opportunities for these students and others. “Advanced
manufacturing is a growing sector in our region and offers high-skilled and high-paying careers for our graduates,” Rodebaugh said in the press statement. “All interested students should reach out to their counselors or their Career and Technical Education teachers for more information. I look forward to having more GCPS students enter the selection process this fall,” she said.
CertainTeed Secures State Grant Funding To Aid Expansion Project
/by WIZS StaffCertainTeed of Oxford has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce to help pay for an expansion of their existing facility. The building reuse grant, combined with $837,500 of private funding, will be used to renovate an existing 326,000-square foot building, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
CertainTeed makes exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, insulation, and ceiling products. In April 2022, officials announced plans for the expansion, which will add 225,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the Oxford location and will include a total project investment of $118.8 million in Granville County, according to information from the Department of Commerce. The original announcement in April stipulated that the CertainTeed expansion would create 37 new jobs – at an average annual wage of $45,096 – which makes the manufacturer eligible for a One NC Grant of $125,000 to aid in the expansion project. Both grants require a 5 percent local match of funds.
“CertainTeed is growing with Granville,” said Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “We are thrilled that the N.C. Department of Commerce recognized the community impact that CertainTeed has in Granville County. Our Economic Development staff was able to assist CertainTeed by securing this additional funding to make their local expansion possible. CertainTeed is one of Granville’s core industry leaders and we could not be happier that they are here for the long haul.”
For more information about the N.C. Building Reuse Grant program, please visit the N.C. Department of Commerce website: https://www.nccommerce.com/grants-incentives/building-or-site-funds/building-reuse.
Zumba Gold: Exercise With A Dance Twist Aug. 26 From 6-8 PM
/by WIZS StaffJoin Gang Free, Inc. for ZUMBA GOLD with Eguiselda on from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 in downtown Henderson.
Zumba Gold is a program that promotes wellness and movement for folks in their golden years – 55 and older – but the exercise event is free and open to anyone who wants to participate, according to information from Gang Free Inc.’s Melissa Elliott. Join in the fun in the parking lot in front of the Henderson Police Department and across the street from Perry Memorial Library, 201 Breckenridge St.
In addition to Gang Free Inc. sponsors include the YMCA, the City of Henderson, Healthier Together and BCBS Healthy Blue.
Local SECU Branches Collecting School Supplies Through August
/by WIZS StaffTeachers and students are gearing up for the start of a new school year, and that surely means school supply lists. Sometimes, those lists are long.
So if you’ve got children still in school and will be doing your back-to-school shopping soon, consider adding a couple of extras to your cart for donation to a drive sponsored by area State Employees’ Credit Unions.
Collection boxes are located at SECU branches in Henderson, Louisburg, Warrenton, Oxford and Butner, just waiting to receive your donation, according to Anna Lemert, a vice president at the Henderson SECU.
All items collected will be given to the school district where the branch is located, Lemert said.
Don’t have a child in school? No problem! Your donations will be gratefully accepted and appreciated.
TownTalk: Upcoming Events At G.R.A.C.E. Ministries
/by Laura GabelG.R.A.C.E. Ministries is a beehive of activity this week, and there’s still time for children ages 4-16 to show up for one more day of a summertime fine arts and enrichment camp at the 961 Burr St. location.
Jamie Elliott said he appreciates the help from Deborah Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for her help with the camp, which began Wednesday and continues through Friday. Elliott told John C. Rose that children are welcome to join in the activities – just come to the church by 10:45 a.m. or so and get checked in, he said.
“It’s been a blessing to see kids come in from the community,” Elliott said on Thursday’s Town Talk.
Then on Saturday, the whole family is invited to come back to G.R.A.C.E. Ministries for Family Day – there will be food, games and more, Elliott said. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will include a backpack giveaway while supplies last. Local churches donated school supplies for the backpack giveaway, he said.
— Click Play below to listen —
Children can enjoy playing basketball and soccer during the day, and there will be a slip-n-slide as well. “It’s not just for kids,” Elliott said, “it’s for all ages.” Even adults need to take some time every now and then to loosen up, he added.
In addition to the weekend activities at G.R.A.C.E. Ministries, Elliott said organizers are planning an Addiction and Support Rally to help show the community – especially those who may be in the grips of substance abuse – that “there’s a better way than drugs.”
The inaugural event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Burr Street location, and will include local agencies and representatives who can help provide resources and information about recovery and about the danger of drugs in the community.
There will be guest speakers who will share their testimonies and their path to recovery, Elliott said, to educate people about drug abuse and to help addicts “see that it’s not the way to go.”
When a person gives their testimonial and shares their story about overcoming addiction, Elliott said, it gives others “the strength to overcome it, too. If that person can do this, maybe I can, too,” he said. But more important than sharing their personal stories, Elliott said the rally is designed to show how Jesus Christ has changed their lives. “Our mission is to reach addicts, those in recovery and their families,” he said.
If your organization would like to participate or set up a booth, contact Elliott 252.204 3617 or Danny Satterwhite at 252.425.3620.
To learn more about the after-school program on Mondays and Tuesdays, contact Bobby West at 252.432.7124.
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TownTalk: Duck Derby
/by Laura GabelThis year’s Duck Derby to benefit Franklin/Granville/Vance Smart Start is shaping up to be another successful event and Gary Daeke, one of the fundraiser organizers, said he’s pleased to note that there will be a full-on street festival for families to enjoy.
The fun begins at 11 a.m. in downtown Henderson on Saturday, Sept. 17. There will be a couple of food trucks, lots of children’s activities and then the race will be at 2 p.m., Daeke told John C. Rose Thursday on Town Talk.
“The ducks have been selling really well,” Daeke noted. They usually sell about 2,500 of the rubber ducks, that will drift down a short-lived “river” created along Garnett Street – compliments of the Henderson Fire Department’s fire hoses. Daeke said Greystone Concrete Products graciously provides the equipment that mixes up the ducks and then dumps them across the starting line to begin the race.
There will be a bounce house and a slide, and Daeke said the kids always enjoy donning fire helmets and having a little fun with the fire hose.
— Click Play below to listen —
The prize for having the winning duck is $1,000. Chick Fil-A for a year is the prize for second place, and the third-place winner will receive a Sheetz gas card. The duck that comes in last gets a prize, too – $100. Tickets are available now from any FGV staffer or board member, but they also will be available until about 1:30 p.m. on the day of the derby.
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Although FGV had the Duck Derby last year, COVID-19 restrictions meant they couldn’t have the full-blown festival. This year, though, brings a return to previous years festivities. Daeke said there should be an area filled with non-profit organizations and agencies available to provide information about resources in the community.
When children and families visit these tables and booths, they’ll get signatures on a scavenger hunt card that will be redeemed for perhaps an ice cream or a sno-cone, he said.
Visit www.fgvsmartstart.org to purchase a duck and to learn more about services of FGV Smart Start. Or call the office at 252.433.9110 to find out more.
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Nella Roo’s in Downtown Henderson, NC
/by Laura GabelFor the past couple of years, Heather Ruth Hodge has been putting things together to bring her to this place – both literally and figuratively.
Hodge’s family calls her “Roo,” and that’s half the name of her new boutique that has opened on Garnett Street. The first half of the boutique’s name is an homage to her grandmother, Nell, whose own business was situated in downtown Henderson near where Nella Roo’s is today.
Hodge was surrounded by family, friends and plenty of local well-wishers at the ribbon-cutting Thursday morning. The site of the former Carolina Bed Center at 319 S. Garnett St. now sports a different look, and it’s a welcome look for local officials who celebrate downtown revitalization efforts that bring in new businesses like Hodge’s.
In her remarks during the ceremony, Hodge recalled a couple of years ago when she “felt the spirit of the Lord” calling her back to her hometown. “I’m so excited to see where it can go and what it can become,” she said of Henderson and the whole downtown area.
— Click Play below to listen —
Her grandmother, Nell Wiggins, owned Nell’s Boutique just a couple of doors down from Nella Roo’s in the late 1970’s and early ‘80s. Hodge said she is so happy when customers come in and tell her how much they loved shopping at Nell’s. “She was a huge inspiration for me,” Hodge said.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said he remembered going to Nell’s with his mom when he was a child and getting into a little bit of trouble for his behavior. But, he said, Nell told his mom it was ok, he was just having a little fun.
Leo Kelly, Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, said he remembers Wiggins as an artist. He said he planned to bring one of her pieces – a painting on slate – for Hodge to hang at her new store.
“I think this gives new life to downtown,” Kelly said, adding that Nella Roo’s will serve to draw other businesses to Garnett Street storefronts.
“You’re our catalyst, our leader,” said Tracy Madigan with the Downtown Development Commission. New businesses serve to increase pride in the downtown area, and Madigan said people who own buildings downtown are wanting to fix them up to further improve the area.
Chamber Board Chair Ronald Bennett said things are looking up for Henderson. “Henderson’s coming back,” Bennett said. “Thank YOU for choosing to come back.”
Visit https://www.nellaroos.com/ to learn more.
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