It’s a well-used analogy, but one appropriate for the situation that Henderson and the surrounding community finds itself in, according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon: The seeds for growth and improvement have been planted, and now the area is beginning to see those seeds sprout. But some onlookers may not be convinced until the flowers bloom.
Blackmon was a guest on Monday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and he said he was among a group of local city and business leaders to come together to late last week to discuss ways to cultivate and nurture those tender sprouts as they continue to grow.
“They’ve been in progress,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen immediately…you have to plant seeds and allow them to grow.”
Blackmon used the analogy to describe the various projects that the city is a part of, as well as the 4-point strategic plan endorsed by the City Council at its 2022 planning retreat.
The meeting was one way for business leaders to hear about progress being made to make Henderson and the surrounding area more inviting – from its physical appearance to attract new residents, to the regional water expansion necessary to provide the infrastructure needed to attract new industry.
They gathered at Clearview Church in Henderson and speakers included Mayor Eddie Ellington, Ronald Bennett, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Greg Etheridge, president of the local Rotary Club, Tony Mills with Henderson Police Department and Brian Boyd, who acted as facilitator for the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
“I was sitting in a room with a group of people that have a vested interest in this community,” Blackmon said of the gathering, a follow-up action from the recent letter presented to the City Council from concerned business about the negative image of the city.
That letter, Blackmon said, underscored some concerns that the city already was in process of addressing, but it also served to heighten expectations and showed that the business community was interested in improvements that were being done around the city.
Blackmon provided an update on progress being made in the council’s four priorities of its strategic plan – improving the image of the city, recruitment and retention of employees, safe, affordable housing and revitalization and redevelopment.
“They see that the city is growing and they want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that improves the overall appearance of the community,” Blackmon said of those who attended the meeting.
Projects like the regional water expansion and housing codes are just a couple of current projects. “Those things don’t sound real sexy, but the provide the infrastructure for the growth that we’re about to see happen in the community,” Blackmon said.
In his remarks to the group, Mayor Ellington said he is most interested in his hometown being the best it can be.
“I’m happy to see this traction and momentum,” Ellington said in a follow-up interview with WIZS News on Monday. “The only way to get better is to address them,” he said of concerns from the community, “admit it, and hit them head-on.”
Ellington said one concern he has is code enforcement in housing. The city council’s recent adoption of revised minimum housing code will surely help in a couple of areas of the city’s strategic plan priorities.
Ellington said staff shortages across city departments – from police officers to street maintenance crews – makes a tough situation even more difficult.
Code enforcement is not an easy job, but Ellington said it’s a key component in making progress. “That’s what’s so desperately needed,” he said, adding that he advocates beefing up the code enforcement staff to be able to adequately address violations across the city.
Blackmon said he is pleased to see that business leaders seem to be more interested in what’s happening in the city and are attending council meetings. “I’m very appreciative of seeing involvement” at council meetings.
“It shows me that they care about this community,” Blackmon added.
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Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What works in the Garden
/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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NC DMV Accepting Applications To Operate Granville County Office
/by WIZS StaffLooking for a career change? The state’s Division of Motor Vehicles is accepting applications for a commissioned contractor to operate the license plate agency in Granville County.
Penny Ellington has operated the license plate agency in Oxford since 2009, but the agency will close on Nov. 17 when the contract ends, according to information from the NC DMV office in Rocky Mount.
Completed applications should be returned no later than Sept. 27. The applications (Form MVR-93 or Form MVR-93AA) can be found on the Connect NCDOT website. Interested applicants may call 919.615.8105 to learn more.
In North Carolina, NCDMV oversees the 127 license plate agencies across the state, but the agencies are managed by private businesses or local governments.
The division’s policy is to open applications to operate a license plate agency after the expiration or end of a contract, or when the need arises for a new or additional agency in a certain county.
Three nearby license plate agencies offer service Monday through Friday:
In addition, services such as property tax payments and registration renewals can be completed online at www.MyNCDMV.gov.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 08-29-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
TownTalk: Blackmon And Ellington Attend Chamber Business Meeting
/by Laura GabelIt’s a well-used analogy, but one appropriate for the situation that Henderson and the surrounding community finds itself in, according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon: The seeds for growth and improvement have been planted, and now the area is beginning to see those seeds sprout. But some onlookers may not be convinced until the flowers bloom.
Blackmon was a guest on Monday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and he said he was among a group of local city and business leaders to come together to late last week to discuss ways to cultivate and nurture those tender sprouts as they continue to grow.
“They’ve been in progress,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen immediately…you have to plant seeds and allow them to grow.”
Blackmon used the analogy to describe the various projects that the city is a part of, as well as the 4-point strategic plan endorsed by the City Council at its 2022 planning retreat.
The meeting was one way for business leaders to hear about progress being made to make Henderson and the surrounding area more inviting – from its physical appearance to attract new residents, to the regional water expansion necessary to provide the infrastructure needed to attract new industry.
They gathered at Clearview Church in Henderson and speakers included Mayor Eddie Ellington, Ronald Bennett, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Greg Etheridge, president of the local Rotary Club, Tony Mills with Henderson Police Department and Brian Boyd, who acted as facilitator for the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
“I was sitting in a room with a group of people that have a vested interest in this community,” Blackmon said of the gathering, a follow-up action from the recent letter presented to the City Council from concerned business about the negative image of the city.
That letter, Blackmon said, underscored some concerns that the city already was in process of addressing, but it also served to heighten expectations and showed that the business community was interested in improvements that were being done around the city.
Blackmon provided an update on progress being made in the council’s four priorities of its strategic plan – improving the image of the city, recruitment and retention of employees, safe, affordable housing and revitalization and redevelopment.
“They see that the city is growing and they want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that improves the overall appearance of the community,” Blackmon said of those who attended the meeting.
Projects like the regional water expansion and housing codes are just a couple of current projects. “Those things don’t sound real sexy, but the provide the infrastructure for the growth that we’re about to see happen in the community,” Blackmon said.
In his remarks to the group, Mayor Ellington said he is most interested in his hometown being the best it can be.
“I’m happy to see this traction and momentum,” Ellington said in a follow-up interview with WIZS News on Monday. “The only way to get better is to address them,” he said of concerns from the community, “admit it, and hit them head-on.”
Ellington said one concern he has is code enforcement in housing. The city council’s recent adoption of revised minimum housing code will surely help in a couple of areas of the city’s strategic plan priorities.
Ellington said staff shortages across city departments – from police officers to street maintenance crews – makes a tough situation even more difficult.
Code enforcement is not an easy job, but Ellington said it’s a key component in making progress. “That’s what’s so desperately needed,” he said, adding that he advocates beefing up the code enforcement staff to be able to adequately address violations across the city.
Blackmon said he is pleased to see that business leaders seem to be more interested in what’s happening in the city and are attending council meetings. “I’m very appreciative of seeing involvement” at council meetings.
“It shows me that they care about this community,” Blackmon added.
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The Local Skinny! Ellington, City Leaders Assess Needs During Ride-Around
/by Laura GabelA contingent of city officials completed a ride-around through a couple of the city’s wards to view for themselves some of the concerns that residents have with the state of some properties in their neighborhoods.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington told John C. Rose on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny! that he was among those who hopped in cars and cruised some of the city’s streets in Wards 3 and 4. Code enforcement, he said, must be “at the forefront of our mission.”
Ride-arounds are just one way for city officials to get firsthand accounts of how properties are being maintained – or not maintained, as the case may be.
“I’ve been through these wards myself,” Ellington said, “to see what people are faced with. Just to see it firsthand, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.
The mayor recalled a recent chat he had with a resident, who invited him off her porch to take a short walk.
“We walked down the street and around the corner,” he said, and what he saw was not good.
“A lot of it was gut-wrenching and disappointing,” he said of pockets of neighborhoods that are not maintained properly.
Some folks have beautiful yards and porches, yet “two houses down, they’re falling in, cars in the yard, abandoned.” City residents don’t deserve that kind of inattention, he said.
Others who participated in the ride-around included City Manager Terrell Blackmon, Police Chief Marcus Barrow, Recreation and Parks Director Kendrick Vann and City Attorney Rix Edwards.
The next ride-around will cover Wards 1 and 2, he said. It’s a good way for the city’s residents to be assured that their concerns are being heard and addressed.
“I just want the residents to keep the faith. We’re moving and we’re looking forward to a bright future,” Ellington said.
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Vance Vipers vs Roanoke Rapid Yellow Jackets
/by John C. RoseVance County 14
Roanoke Rapids 7
Final
Vipers move to 2-0 on season. Second half defensive struggle as neither team scored after the break. Vance never trailed.
Full recap Monday at 12:30pm on SportsTalk.
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Harvesting Herbs
/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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2022-23 Theater Season Kicks Off Sept. 3 At Lakeland Cultural Arts Center In Littleton
/by WIZS StaffThe Lakeland Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) in Littleton will host a Welcome Back Open House on Saturday, Sept. 3 to kick off the 2022-23 Main Stage Series. The theater is located at 411 Mosby Ave.
Visitors to the theater, which has undergone a recent renovation and expansion, can take a tour of the facility between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the open house event. Then, at 7 p.m., LCAC will show the movie “Grease,” complete with free popcorn and soft drinks. Beer and wine will be available for purchase as well.Local supporters Deb and Ed Fitts, through the Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation, have contributed mightily to ensure that the small town’s theater continues to survive and thrive after more than 40 years in operation.
Adult tickets for the 2022-23 shows are $20, tickets for seniors (62+) are $17, and tickets for children (under 13) are $13. For more information and to purchase tickets to any of LCAC’s Main Stage Series shows, click here. Stay tuned for the announcement of more shows coming soon.
The season kicks off with Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” in November, followed by “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens in mid-December. Then January 2023 kicks off with the production of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” by Roger Bean, followed by
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club” by Jeffrey Hatcher in mid-March and
“The Drowsy Chaperone” by Bob Martin and Don McKellar in May. “Crowns” by Regina Taylor
rounds out the performances, and dates will be announced later.
Dates and times are listed below:
“The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon
Nov. 11-12 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
Nov. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
Dec. 15-17 at 7:30 p.m.
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” by Roger Bean
Jan. 20-21 at 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 at 2 p.m.
Jan. 26-28 at 7:30 p.m.
“Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club” by Jeffrey Hatcher
Mar. 24-25 at 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 26 at 2 p.m.
Mar. 30 – Apr. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” by Bob Martin and Don McKellar
May 12 – 13 at 7:30 p.m.
May 14 at 2 p.m
May 18 – 20 at 7:30 p.m.
“Crowns” by Regina Taylor – dates and times to be announced
Vote Daily To Keep Two Local Products In Running For “Coolest Thing Made In NC” Contest
/by WIZS StaffTwo Vance County businesses are in the running for a statewide honor, and voting is now underway to choose the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” by the N.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Now it’s up to the community to vote via email to make sure the local businesses get to the next round.
Henderson-Vance Chamber President Michele Burgess told WIZS Thursday that not one, but two local products have been nominated and she said it’s a “really BIG deal.”
For the past few years, the NC Chamber has held a statewide contest, she said.
“Two of our Henderson companies were named! Way to go, Country Snacks Mfg. for your pork skins product and MARS Petcare for your Nutro Dog Food!” Burgess said in an email statement to WIZS.
Burgess said she nominated the County Snacks pork skins because Carolina Country Snacks recently was named the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year. “And then to see that MARS was also selected is just icing on the cake,” Burgess noted. “Both are worthy products for sure.”
Visit coolestthingmadeinnc.com , search for the two products, and vote! “The 10 semifinalists will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 8, and that doesn’t give us much time to take action,” Burgess said. A total of 80 products are in the first round, but Burgess is encouraging the community to vote for the two Vance County products to keep them in the running for the ultimate award.
The field of candidates narrows with each round of voting, and the winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 6, the day before National Manufacturing (MFG) Day. October is Manufacturing Month, and MFG Day, organized nationally by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, highlights the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.
A couple of details about the voting process:
Franklin, CenturyLink Continue Broadband Project To Unserved Areas
/by WIZS StaffHigh-speed fiber internet will soon be available to almost 2,000 homes currently in unserved areas throughout Franklin County.
Through a $3.9 million Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant, Lumen – the parent company of CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber – will be providing high-speed fiber internet to 1,978 homes across Franklin County. The project makes available broadband fiber internet in areas previously unserved by that service, according to a press statement from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.
The project will bring broadband to the unincorporated areas of Franklinton, Centerville, Wood, Justice, Bunn, Green Hill, Laurel Mill, Montgomery, Firetower, NC 561, NC 56 East, Alert and Perry. Work is expected to finish in July 2023.
The company has already completed access to 584 homes and is accepting new customers in the areas of Montgomery, NC 581, Green Hill and Laurel Mill.
Officials from Lumen met recently with Franklin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Michael Schriver and Commissioner Harry Foy along with Assistant County Manager Will Doerfer at one of the completed sites of the project along Ronald Tharrington Road.
“This broadband GREAT Grant program is a wonderful example of public-private partnerships that work for people, communities, and their businesses,” said Steve Brewer, Lumen’s director of state regulatory and legislative affairs. “Families and businesses have shifted to living more of life online. We know broadband brings many benefits to communities—this expansion will improve access to the online applications being used every day.”
GREAT grants, established by N.C. legislature and awarded by N.C. Broadband Infrastructure Office, are provided to private broadband service providers to “facilitate the deployment of broadband service to unserved areas of North Carolina,” according to the Broadband Office’s website. Visit https://www.ncbroadband.gov/grants/great-grant to learn more.
Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners approved a letter of support and local match for CenturyLink to receive this GREAT Grant of $3,899,638 to install high-speed fiber internet to nearly 2,000 homes throughout the county. Commissioners also supported the application with a promised local match of $116,990. In February 2021, CenturyLink signed a five-year service agreement with NC Broadband Infrastructure Office. At the July 2021 meeting, commissioners approved a contract for CenturyLink to provide fiber-to-the-home service for 1,978 homes in Franklin County in exchange for the county’s match.
County leadership is awaiting a decision on additional Phase II GREAT Grant funding and will be pursuing additional grant programs to further expand broadband access in Franklin County.
“Franklin County is excited about this opportunity for residents to access life-changing service,” said County Manager Kim Denton. “Access to high-speed internet expands opportunities for education, healthcare, and personal enrichment.”
Residents can find out about service and rate information in their area by visiting www.Q.com or www.centurylink.com. Residents can also find service availability information by clicking the “Check Availability” button and supplying their addresses.