Pick One Or More Area Fireworks Displays This Weekend

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If you plan your holiday weekend right, and don’t mind spending a little money for gas, there are several fireworks displays planned in the area that are sure to light up the night sky and dazzle onlookers.

• The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department is hosting its annual event on Friday evening at Fox Pond Park. The park will close at 7 p.m. and no parking will be allowed at the park, but a free shuttle service will pick up visitors at Aycock Rec Center beginning at 5 p.m. and will continue until about 8:45 p.m. There will be food vendors on site at the park and the fireworks show is set to begin about 9 p.m. Visit https://www.kerrlake-nc.com/event-details.php?event=268 to learn more.

• Lake Holt in Creedmoor is the site of Granville County’s fireworks show on Friday, July 1. The lake entrance is located at 1100 Lake Holt Rd. off Old Hwy. 75 in Butner. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the event, and parking and security is provided by officers of the Creedmoor Police Dept, Butner Public Safety, the Oxford Police Dept., the Granville County Sheriff’s Dept., Creedmoor Fire Dept., Stem Fire Dept. and the Junior Volunteer Fire Dept. Make sure you’re through the gates no later than 8:45 p.m., because no one will be allowed to enter after that time. The show will begin once it’s dark. Visit https://www.cityofcreedmoor.org/departments/recreation/events/fourth-of-july-picnic-fireworks to learn more.

• Then, on Saturday, July 2, head on out to Satterwhite Point to watch the fireworks display sponsored by Vance County Tourism. Director Pam Hester said the event will feature food, live music and other vendors from 4 p.m. until dark, with fireworks beginning around 9:15 p.m. Reminder: alcohol is not permitted at state parks – including Satterwhite Point – and there is a $7 park entrance gate fee. Visit http://www.kerrlake-nc.com/event-details.php?event=267 to learn more.

• If you’re closer to Cokesbury than Satterwhite Point on Saturday, you can check out what Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department has to offer. Chief Adam Pegram said gates open at 6 p.m. There will be food vendors on site and the fireworks will begin around dark.

• Unfortunately, the fireworks show scheduled for Franklin County was cancelled for this year following a recent fatal fire at a Lenoir County warehouse where the fireworks that were to be used in Franklin County had been stored. In addition to the fatality, several firefighters were injured in the June 11 blaze. There was not enough time to find replacement fireworks, so Franklin County officials cancelled the event.

TownTalk: Lt. Governor Robinson Speaks to Local GOP

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Full Mark Robinson audio included below.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson was the featured speaker at a Vance County GOP fundraiser on Friday, and he exhorted those in attendance to stay focused on the task at hand – that being the November midterm elections.

The fundraiser was held at the former Charles Boyd Chevrolet lot on US Hwy. 158. About 300 were in attendance, as well as other local candidates on the November ballot.

Robinson’s speech, which was broadcast live on WIZS Friday afternoon, was rebroadcast – unedited – during Monday’s TownTalk segment. He spoke for about 15 minutes and began his remarks celebrating the Friday Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade.

“It’s been a long, hard battle to see that overturned,” Robinson said of the ruling to return abortion rights to states.

He said he is “thoroughly committed to protect the lives of the unborn,” and that he would strive to “make North Carolina the most pro-life state in the nation.” Earlier in his remarks, Robinson said he and his supporters would fight “tooth and nail to protect life in this state.”

While he hasn’t put his hat in the ring yet, Robinson alluded to his intention to run for governor in 2024.

Callers who either attended the event on Friday or listened to the rebroadcast Monday said they would approve of Robinson the gubernatorial candidate.

One caller said he attended Friday’s event and said it felt like “freedom was ringing in the air.”

Another caller said “he’s what we need. He’ll be a good governor…he’s a God-fearing man (and) he loves his country.”

Pointing to national issues like rising gas prices, inflation and what he called the failure of the Biden administration, Robinson said winning the mid-term elections was crucial in order to elect more conservative candidates.

“Let’s keep standing up and let’s keep fighting, folks. We have a nation to save. It’s only going to get saved if we stand up and do it.”

The audience erupted into applause and shouts periodically to show support for Robinson’s comments. He called the Jan. 6 investigation a “smokescreen” and said he wants to keep the country from becoming a “socialist hellhole.”

Sending conservative candidates to Washington, DC would ensure that Republicans would have a super majority in Congress, but he said it also is important to elect conservative candidates to local offices like school boards.

He said he speaks to people all the time who lament they are but one person and the job is large. To which he answers, he said: “There are no little people in this fight.” Whether stuffing envelopes or canvassing neighborhoods in a door-to-door campaign, Robinson said even small contributions have an impact.

“We’ve got to get up on our feet and do the work ourselves,” he said. “We”ve got a state to run and a nation to save.”

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Water Quality

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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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“How To Grow Your Small Business” Lunch Event June 28 At VGCC Civic Center

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Area business owners have an opportunity to hear from a panel of experts who will discuss how to grow a small business. The program will be held Tuesday, June 28 from noon to 2 p.m. in the VGCC Civic Center on the Henderson campus.

MakoRx, a local business and member of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, has organized the “How to Grow Your Small Business” event, and Chamber President Michele Burgess said it will be a wonderful opportunity to learn strategies to help business owners – whether they’re getting a new startup off the ground or own a business that’s been around a long time.

Among the topics to be discussed: health care, HR relations, finances and employee retention.

Lunch will be provided.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/371344951747.

5 Granville Students Participating In Summer Leadership Program

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Five local high school students are participating in Granville County’s Summer Civic Leadership Program.

The students, all rising seniors, began the program on June 16, according to a statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. The program continues through July and the students will be present at the Aug. 8 meeting of the Granville Board of Commissioners to talk about their experience and share the results of a group project.

The summer program began 22 years ago and is designed to allow high school students to gain exposure and on-the-job-experience in all aspects of county government operations.

The following students are participating in the program:

  • Kristopher Arias – Granville Early College
  • Jayla Gregory – Granville Early College
  • MacKayla McBride – Granville Early College
  • Kenyan Smith – J.F. Webb High School
  • Courtney Williams – Granville Early College

Master Gardener Class Forming for Vance, Warren Counties

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N.C. Cooperative Extension is looking for a few good volunteers to join the Vance/Warren Master Gardenersm program. Applications are now being accepted for the 16-week training program, which will begin on Thursday, Aug.11, 2022 and will continue to meet on Thursday mornings.

During the course of the class, participants will learn about all aspects of gardening including fruits, vegetables, weeds, insects, diseases, trees, shrubs, turf and more. The class location will alternate between Henderson and Warrenton.

After training, each volunteer intern is required to provide 40 hours of service in various community outreach projects. No green thumb required, and many other skills are needed including public speaking, writing, photography, social media, event planning, graphic design, and much more. Recent volunteer projects have included demonstration gardens in both counties, newsletters, gardening workshops and seminars, youth education and more. The training fee is $125.

For more information, please visit http://go.ncsu.edu/mgvw or call 252.438.8188 (Vance County) or 252.257.3640 (Warren County).

SportsTalk: Vance Charter Cheerleaders Heading to Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

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From a sealed envelope after a recent cheerleading practice, the 21 girls who make up the Vance Charter Cheerleading team discovered that they had been selected to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. Stacey Long, the girls’ coach, said there was excitement followed by disbelief. “Is this really happening,” Long quoted the girls as asking on Thursday’s edition of SportsTalk.

No cheerleading team from the area has ever been selected to participate in the parade. Vance Charter will be the first. The hard work and practice has paid off. The team practices a couple of times a week and it was only last school year that Vance Charter participated in its first competition. In February, they went to their second competition and took first place resulting in an invitation to submit a video, FAQ sheet, GPA’s and titles to the parade organization. Two days after submission came the reply that Vance Charter’s Cheerleading squad would be included in this year’s parade.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Long said of the invitation. Long also said that it will be expensive, around $3,000 per girl, to make the trip to the Big Apple for the parade. To that end, fundraising efforts have begun with a goal of $70,000 for the trip which will last for six nights and include various sightseeing opportunities in addition to the participation in the parade. To help with fundraising efforts, the team is going to businesses seeking sponsorships and will have a calendar fundraiser along with conducting a cheerleader camp. The cheerleader camp will cost participants $150 per person with all of the money from the camp and other fund raising projects going to send the Vance Charter Cheerleaders to New York City.

Bronze level sponsorships are $500, Silver is $1,000, Gold $1,500 and Platinum level is $2,500. All donations of any monetary value are welcomed. For more information on how to donate see their Facebook page at facebook.com/Vance-Charter-High-School-Cheerleading-105276945550598 or call Stacey Long at 919-691-3279.

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Man Gets 120-Month Prison Term For Shooting At Warren Deputy

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-information courtesy of the Eastern District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office

A man who shot at a Warren County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Rodriguez Crudup pled guilty to charges that stemmed from an incident on Dec. 28, 2021 at a Warrenton residence. The deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance call, according to information from the office of U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.

“The deputy was advised that Crudup, who was at the residence, took the victim’s loaded firearm and ran from the residence into the woods. The deputy heard Crudup running in the woods and ran towards the area identifying himself as a Warren County Sheriff’s Officer.  At this time a single shot was discharged by the defendant and the deputy heard the crack of a projectile pass over his head,” the statement read.

The deputy took cover at his vehicle and called for additional units. Crudup was later arrested and the gun was found in the woods.  An assessment of the firearm revealed that the gun had jammed after the first round was discharged.

Crudup’s prior convictions include breaking and entering, and two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Judge James C. Dever rejected the defendant’s arguments that this was an accidental discharge and found the defendant intentionally fired his weapon at a law enforcement officer. The defendant was sentenced to the maximum sentence he could receive.

“We stand with and will protect law enforcement who respond to dangerous situations.  Our office will continue to prosecute armed felons who threaten our community,” Easley said in the statement announcing the sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane J. Jackson  and Yasir Sadat prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.