The area is full of family cemeteries, many of which are lovingly maintained and easily identified with signs and decorative fences around their perimeters. But there are probably many small, family plots that have long been forgotten and now lie under weeds and thick forest growth. If you think you’ve stumbled upon such a spot, Melissa Timo at the state archaeology office wants to know about it.
Timo is a historic cemetery specialist and works with individuals across the state to confirm the sites of cemeteries. Timo and her team are constantly adding sites to their list, thanks to the help of ordinary citizens who make reports to her office.
She was back on the tri-weekly history segment of Town Talk Thursday with Bill Harris and Mark Pace and discussed how to report a long-lost cemetery and how to best care for stone grave markers to best protect and preserve them.
The reports seem to come in waves and, not coincidentally, she said usually happen in March and April, then again in October – those months when folks are likely to take leisurely hikes or are just spending more time outside.
It’s important to note that, according to North Carolina law, it’s illegal to disturb a cemetery, whether it’s on private or public land. And while there aren’t many requirements for a landowner to maintain a cemetery on his or her property, landowners cannot dump trash or pull up headstones or otherwise disturb the property.
Sometimes, Timo gets information about possible cemeteries gathered from oral histories or stories from individuals who have seen clusters of daffodils or stacks of fieldstone near a depression in the ground. Or there’s one really old cedar tree among a grove of much younger trees. It takes a little detective work and keen observation skills to identify cemeteries, especially when the “surface remains” – grave markers, headstones, etc – are not in view.
“I always say safer than sorry,” Timo said, “especially because we’re talking about the resting place of human beings.”
Contact Timo at 919.814.6265 or email her at Melissa.timo@ncdcr.gov to report a possible cemetery site or to learn more.
VCS Virtual Job Fair Apr. 30
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools is hosting a virtual job fair on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The school system has opening across the K-12 grades, as well as in the areas of physical education, special education, CTE, counselors, music and art.
Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on the link for registration under the job fair announcement. According to the job fair announcement, there is a signing bonus for certified teachers in grades Pre-K-12.
“Vance County Schools is committed to finding amazing teachers and staff to support the ongoing vision of our district,” according to an information from Dr. Dr. Jennifer Carraway, chief human resources officer. Contact Carraway at jcarraway@vcs.k12.nc.us.
Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Managing Parenthood, 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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The Local Skinny! Granville Gardeners Expo
/by WIZS StaffStop by the Granville Gardeners Expo in Oxford on Saturday for a fun-filled day of plant and garden workshops, from beekeeping to composting. There will be more than 60 vendors on site at the Granville County Expo Center on Hwy. 15 south of Oxford, selling all types of plants and shrubs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christi Henthorn is one of the the event organizers and she said this year’s event is more like a home and garden festival. And, she noted, it’s “a happy accident” that the expo will take place so close to Earth Day – which is tomorrow.
“We have a ton of stuff for everyone,” Henthorn told Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment. There is face painting, a petting zoo for the children, in addition to a wide variety of demonstrations and workshops scheduled throughout the day.
Local agriculture extension agent Johnny Coley will have a Gardening 101 class at 11 a.m. to dispel fears and encourage would-be gardeners to get a garden going. Whether they are vegetables, herbs or flowers, developing a green thumb is not that difficult, Henthorn said.
Coley will offer tips and tricks for the novice gardener, but even veteran gardeners are sure to pick up a thing or to, she said.
The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.thegranvillegardeners.com to see a complete schedule of events.
The parking lot in front of the expo center is reserved for those attendees who aren’t able to walk long distances and for those who are picking up pre-ordered plants. Henthorn said all others should park in the adjacent parking lot located in front of the former tobacco facility.
Henthorn said she expected a couple thousand people for the annual event. Come early for best plant selection!
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TownTalk: Care For Historic Cemeteries
/by Laura GabelThe area is full of family cemeteries, many of which are lovingly maintained and easily identified with signs and decorative fences around their perimeters. But there are probably many small, family plots that have long been forgotten and now lie under weeds and thick forest growth. If you think you’ve stumbled upon such a spot, Melissa Timo at the state archaeology office wants to know about it.
Timo is a historic cemetery specialist and works with individuals across the state to confirm the sites of cemeteries. Timo and her team are constantly adding sites to their list, thanks to the help of ordinary citizens who make reports to her office.
She was back on the tri-weekly history segment of Town Talk Thursday with Bill Harris and Mark Pace and discussed how to report a long-lost cemetery and how to best care for stone grave markers to best protect and preserve them.
The reports seem to come in waves and, not coincidentally, she said usually happen in March and April, then again in October – those months when folks are likely to take leisurely hikes or are just spending more time outside.
It’s important to note that, according to North Carolina law, it’s illegal to disturb a cemetery, whether it’s on private or public land. And while there aren’t many requirements for a landowner to maintain a cemetery on his or her property, landowners cannot dump trash or pull up headstones or otherwise disturb the property.
Sometimes, Timo gets information about possible cemeteries gathered from oral histories or stories from individuals who have seen clusters of daffodils or stacks of fieldstone near a depression in the ground. Or there’s one really old cedar tree among a grove of much younger trees. It takes a little detective work and keen observation skills to identify cemeteries, especially when the “surface remains” – grave markers, headstones, etc – are not in view.
“I always say safer than sorry,” Timo said, “especially because we’re talking about the resting place of human beings.”
Contact Timo at 919.814.6265 or email her at Melissa.timo@ncdcr.gov to report a possible cemetery site or to learn more.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 4-21-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
30th Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive – Sat, May 14
/by WIZS Staff— submitted by Rob Barker, president of local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers
Saturday, May 14, 2022 is the 30th Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive.
Please place non-perishable food in or by your mailbox and we will collect it and deliver it to local food banks. All food collected in this county will stay in this county and will be distributed to ACTS, Lifeline, The Salvation Army, ARC and Hope House.
In Warren County which is part of our unit, it will be distributed to Loaves and Fishes and the Senior Center.
This is a nationwide food collection drive and your help is greatly appreciated.
We were unable to have it the last two years due to COVID so there is definitely a need for food everywhere.
In 2019, the last year we had it, we collected almost 14,000 pounds.
Northeast Piedmont Chorale; McGregor Hall; May 1; FREE CONCERT
/by WIZS StaffThe Northeast Piedmont Chorale will perform at McGregor Hall on Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. The concert is free and Chorale President Judy Miller invites the public to attend.
“We are thrilled to be bringing music back after two long years of not being able to sing or perform together,” Miller said in a press statement. The chorale will perform in Raleigh at 7:30 p.m. on Apr. 29 at New Hope Baptist Church, 4301 Louisburg Rd.
The season’s theme, ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is,’ traces the history of our country from its founding to the present and sends a message of hope in these turbulent times, Miller said.
The program opens with “America, the Beautiful.” It follows the history of our country through songs like “Song of the Tall Ship” and “They’re Coming to America” that tell the story of immigrants headed to America to find a new home. The program continues with “Shenandoah” and “Cindy” which highlight the adventurous spirit of the early settlers. Other songs like “The Gettysburg Address” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” reflect the feelings of a country split apart by the Civil War. The program ends with a message of hope and healing for all nations. Henderson’s own Cindy Edwards is director of the chorale. “We believe in the healing power of music and the arts. Song is a transformative medium for both our chorale and our audiences,” Edwards said. “Our members are looking forward to bringing a moving and beautiful evening of music to our audiences.”
The Northeast Piedmont Chorale (NPC) is a non-profit, non-sectarian volunteer organization whose mission is to perform fine choral music for residents of the Northeast Piedmont area of North Carolina at no charge. Members of the chorale come from Durham, Garner, Henderson, Kittrell, Louisburg, Middlesex, Oxford, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Youngsville, and Zebulon. The Chorale performs for hundreds of community residents each season. It relies on the generous support of corporate and individual contributors, local arts councils, member dues, fundraising activities, concert contributions, and the public to continue performing free concerts.
Duke Energy Celebrates Line Workers
/by WIZS Staff— information from Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy
Duke Energy and utilities nationwide celebrated “front-line heroes” on Monday, honoring those who keep the power flowing to homes and businesses every day.
Evans wrote in an email sent to WIZS that more than 3,200 line workers are part of the Duke Energy team in the Carolinas, “and we need more.”
She said, “The energy industry estimates 800 entry level line workers are required per year for the next five years in North Carolina alone.”
See more at duke-energy.com.
“We are actively looking for diverse, new talent. We are partnering with Nash Community College to help train for these positions,” Evans said.
But for now Evans said, “Please join us as we salute all of the utility line workers, who are constantly going the extra mile to provide reliable electric service to customers.”
(Duke Energy is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)
Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 04-20-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM