It’s budget season, a time when cities and counties look at that tricky balance between revenues – money coming in – and expenditures – paying for services that residents need.
The Kerr-Tar Council of Government budget, however, relies mostly on federal money to fund its programs.
And KTCOG Executive Director Diane Cox said recent uncertainty with federal agencies reducing workforce and closing whole programs, this year’s budget process was different than in years past.
“I’ve always taken the conservative approach when it came to our budget,” Cox said in an interview with WIZS.
The 2025-26 budget represents a decrease of more than $2 million from the current year budget and does not include any salary or cost of living increases. Cox is proposing a roughly $5.8 million budget and is hopeful that additional federal funding will be available. The 2024-25 amended budget was just more than $8.3 million.
“Over 90 percent of our funding at COG comes through the state but they’re federal funds,” Cox explained.
“No one’s saying anything yet,” she said. “The state folks haven’t heard from that federal folks what those funds are going to look like.” So until then, Cox and the KTCOG staff wait.
“It’s sort of a wait and see position that we’re in,” she said. “We’re preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”
One area that she’s particularly concerned about is the Area Agency on Aging, which relies on mostly federal funds. As of Friday, there had been no notice that the grant funding will be coming.
“This is the first year in the 14 or 15 years that I’ve been here that we’ve gone into the budget season without some initial numbers,” she said. For that reason, she said the budget is “very conservative” and included an across-the-board decrease.
The Area Agency on Aging programs provide services for the senior centers in all five counties, as well as their in-home aide programs, among others.
Since the pandemic, the KTCOG has provided assistance to many local governments in the region in some form or another.
Cox said while she and her staff wait for word on grant funding, KTCOG will continue to provide services and programs for the region – there’s a disaster recovery and relief expo on Thursday, June 12 at the VGCC Civic Center, which will provide information to community groups and individuals about how to cope in the event of a disaster.
“We have always had a much larger budget at the end of the year than we do at the beginning of the year” because the COG receives grant funding throughout the year.
So, while our budget may look much lower than what our current budget is, the hope (is) – and I pray – that there will be several budget amendments,” Cox said, allowing for the provision of more service.
Body Of Missing 2-Year-Old Found In Kerr Lake
/by WIZS Staff-From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
The body of a 2-year-old boy was recovered from Kerr Lake Tuesday afternoon, several hours after family members had reported the child missing.
Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame said his office was notified just after 2 p.m. about a possible missing child.
Upon arriving at the residence, sheriff’s deputies were advised by the family that a two-year-old male was last seen in the yard of the home approximately 20 minutes prior to their arrival. Responding units completed a search of the residence and the immediate surrounding area and were unable to locate the child.
Outside resources were contacted for assistance. The following agencies and departments responded a short time later. The NCState Highway Patrol, Henderson Police Department, Vance County Rescue, Vance County Fire, Vance County EMS, North Carolina State Parks, Granville, Franklin and Warren County Sheriff’s Offices, Wake Forest Fire Department and the REDS Team based in Garner.
Based upon the search area being located within 100 yards of the water’s edge of Kerr Lake underwater drones were deployed, along with other water rescue resources. During the water operations units located the body of the missing two year old child submerged. The child was located at approximately 5:18 p.m. A recovery was then initiated by the responding units. The body was transported to a local hospital.
The identity of the child is not being released at this time pending notification to all family members.
Brame said, “The Vance County Sheriff’s Office expresses our most sincere condolences and prayers for the family. We also extend our thanks to all who responded to assist in this incident.”
SportsTalk: The Best & The Worst
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis talk about the best and the worst teams of all-time in major sports history, why they were good or bad, and where they are now.
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TownTalk: Vance Elections Board Merges 5 Precincts To Create Newly Named Central Henderson, South Henderson Precincts
/by Laura GabelWith the proposal to consolidate five voting precincts into two approved by the N.C. State Board of Elections, County Elections Director Haley Rawles presented the plan to county commissioners at their meeting on Monday.
North Henderson 1 and East Henderson 1 precincts are going to become Central Henderson voting precinct, and voters will go to the campus of the former Eaton Johnson Middle School to cast their ballots.
The Hilltop, South Henderson 1 and South Henderson 2 precincts will merge to become South Henderson precinct. Perry Memorial Library will be the voting place for that precinct.
Rawles told commissioners that no candidate seats will be affected; the consolidation will not change the ward or district.
Rawles said information about the changes in precinct locations will be mailed to residents in August and the information also will be published on the board of elections webpage and shared with local news outlets.
The Vance County Board of Elections voted in February 2024 to set the process in motion, and it got notice of approval from then-state director Karen Brinson Bell.
The county elections board had been talking about consolidating precincts for some time, she said. “This has been something that they’ve wanted for years,” Rawles said. This plan reduces from 12 to 9 the number of voting precincts in the county.
More voters are choosing to cast ballots during the early voting period, which has reduced the number of voters who come to the polls on election day. She provided numbers from recent elections to commissioners – one precinct had zero voters come in on election day.
She said the consolidation could reduce by 21 the number of poll workers needed on election day.
In addition to reducing the number of workers, Rawles said the move will reduce confusion for voters about their polling place and will increase the safety and accessibility for voters – and staff. It also will simplify delivery and pickup of elections equipment by county employees.
“The Board of Elections is trying to save the county some money,” said Elections Board Chair James Baines.
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Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Seeks Candidates For Director Of Music And Choral Arts
/by WIZS StaffCotton Memorial Presbyterian Church is looking for that special person with a background in music to fill a part-time position of director of Music and Choral Arts.
The church, located at 511 N. Chestnut St., Henderson, seeks a person with at least a few years of experience in leading musical ensembles and knows how to play piano, organ or other musical instruments to accompany choir performances.
It will be very helpful to have a background with children’s music, too, as well as experience with both online and in-person worship technology, according to information from the church.
The part-time role involves leading weekly rehearsal in addition to Sunday worship service. The director of Music and Choral Arts will be responsible for collaborating with the pastor and the Worship Committee to develop and lead the church’s worship music ministry in alignment with its missions, beliefs, culture and bylaws.
The director will have a designated music budget to purchase additional music for church use.
“CMPC embraces a diverse worship music tradition, allowing the director flexibility in choosing Christian music – including hymns, gospel, patriotic and contemporary gospel – as long as it aligns with Scripture,” the job posting states.
To learn more, call the church at 252.492.3478 or email cottonmem@earthlink.net
The Local Skinny! Vance County Reads with Perry Memorial Library
/by WIZS StaffHave you seen those baskets with books when you pop in the local coffee shop or the farmers market? Those books are for you! It’s part of a new program called ‘Vance County Reads’ sponsored by Perry Memorial Library.
There are 10 locations throughout the county where copies of three different books can be found, each one targeting a specific age range.
And Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters said everyone’s invited to a big celebration at the end of July to meet the two local authors whose books are among the selections in the baskets.
Lots of communities have group reads, Peters told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! She and library staff developed this program as a way to reach people who may not have occasion to visit the library itself.
“We tried to do what is a nice fit for the community,” she said.
The books are free to take, and you can bring them back after you’ve finished reading them so others can enjoy them, but it’s not required.
The goal is to get people excited about reading, she said.
Local author Curtis Harvey, Jr.’s book titled “The Perfect Pair” is geared for younger children through elementary school-aged youth.
“Super Pancake” is a graphic novel geared toward the middle school and older group, and local author Angie Ellington’s “Autumn at Apple Hill” is the book selected for adults.
Of course, anyone may choose to read any of the books, Peters noted.
Harvey and Ellington are scheduled to be at the July 29 celebration, which will be held at the library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Find the book baskets at Perry Memorial Library and at the following locations:
Visit www.perrylibrary.org to learn about all the programs and services the library offers.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 06-03-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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NCDOT Awards $2.9 M Contract For Roadwork In Vance, Granville, Warren Counties
/by WIZS Staff— information from the N.C. Department of Transportation
The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $2.9 million contract to Sunrock Industries LLC to improve more than 16 miles of roads in Granville, Vance and Warren counties.
The roads to be upgraded include:
The project will include milling, resurfacing, shoulder reconstruction and curb replacement. Work is set to begin this spring and should be finished by late fall 2026.
“Very Conservative” KTCOG Budget Reflects Federal Funding Uncertainty
/by WIZS StaffIt’s budget season, a time when cities and counties look at that tricky balance between revenues – money coming in – and expenditures – paying for services that residents need.
The Kerr-Tar Council of Government budget, however, relies mostly on federal money to fund its programs.
And KTCOG Executive Director Diane Cox said recent uncertainty with federal agencies reducing workforce and closing whole programs, this year’s budget process was different than in years past.
“I’ve always taken the conservative approach when it came to our budget,” Cox said in an interview with WIZS.
The 2025-26 budget represents a decrease of more than $2 million from the current year budget and does not include any salary or cost of living increases. Cox is proposing a roughly $5.8 million budget and is hopeful that additional federal funding will be available. The 2024-25 amended budget was just more than $8.3 million.
“Over 90 percent of our funding at COG comes through the state but they’re federal funds,” Cox explained.
“No one’s saying anything yet,” she said. “The state folks haven’t heard from that federal folks what those funds are going to look like.” So until then, Cox and the KTCOG staff wait.
“It’s sort of a wait and see position that we’re in,” she said. “We’re preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”
One area that she’s particularly concerned about is the Area Agency on Aging, which relies on mostly federal funds. As of Friday, there had been no notice that the grant funding will be coming.
“This is the first year in the 14 or 15 years that I’ve been here that we’ve gone into the budget season without some initial numbers,” she said. For that reason, she said the budget is “very conservative” and included an across-the-board decrease.
The Area Agency on Aging programs provide services for the senior centers in all five counties, as well as their in-home aide programs, among others.
Since the pandemic, the KTCOG has provided assistance to many local governments in the region in some form or another.
Cox said while she and her staff wait for word on grant funding, KTCOG will continue to provide services and programs for the region – there’s a disaster recovery and relief expo on Thursday, June 12 at the VGCC Civic Center, which will provide information to community groups and individuals about how to cope in the event of a disaster.
“We have always had a much larger budget at the end of the year than we do at the beginning of the year” because the COG receives grant funding throughout the year.
So, while our budget may look much lower than what our current budget is, the hope (is) – and I pray – that there will be several budget amendments,” Cox said, allowing for the provision of more service.
Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Too Much Rain
/by WIZS StaffOn the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report from Michael Ellington:
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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SportsTalk: Minor League Baseball Update and NCAA Baseball Tournament Update
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue give an update on Minor League Baseball in the state of North Carolina. The guys also give an update on the ACC Teams still participating in the NCAA Baseball Tournament!
Friday MiLB Scores:
Saturday MiLB Scores:
Sunday MiLB Scores:
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