The Local Skinny! County Reports On Tax Collections, Audit And New Ambulance

/by

Vance County Commissioners accepted the audit report for 2020-21 at its January meeting, which included good news about the county’s fund balances and about tax collections. The county’s total fund balance increased by more than $4 million to $26.9 million and the unassigned fund balance increased almost $7 million to $22 million. This amount represents more than 44 percent of next year’s budget, according to the minutes of the January meeting.

Tax collections increased almost 1 percent, to 97.6 percent from 96.68 percent.

Commissioners heard from Stuart Hill representing audit firm Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. who presented the audit report.

Although there were two budget findings, both have been corrected, the minutes reflected. “There were no difficulties in performing the audit, no uncorrected misstatements and no disagreements with management,” according to the minutes.

The unassigned fund balance increased from $15.3 million to $22.0 million, which is “well within the range that is recommended  by the Local Government Commission,” the minutes stated.

Tax collections increased from 96.68% to 97.60%. The total property valuation is $2,963,958,764 and the total levy amount is $26,533,277.

After discussion, motion was made by Commissioner Dan Brummitt to receive the FY  2020-21 Audit Report as presented. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Thomas S.  Hester, Jr. and unanimously approved.

Finance Director Katherine Bigelow also presented information to commissioners regarding the purchase of a new ambulance during her report at the January meeting. Three bids were considered, but recommended was the bid from Northwestern Emergency Vehicles for about $264,230.

Brummitt made a motion to accept the bid proposal, seconded by

Hester, to purchase a 2022 Ford F550 4 X 4 Type 1 ambulance from Northwestern. A budget amendment of $4,230 also was approved to reach the complete purchase price.

 

Click Play

TownTalk: Taking Care of Your Heart

/by

Dr. Mohammed Akhter, an interventional cardiologist at Maria Parham Health is helping promote the American Heart Association’s theme to “reclaim your rhythm” during the February observance of heart health awareness.

No one can deny the impact that COVID-19 has had on our brains and our hearts, Akhter told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. He encourages everyone to focus again on health lifestyles that can have a positive effect on our physical and mental health.

When gyms and restaurants shut down at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, it was more than just an inconvenience, Akhter said.

It’s time to get back in the groove of those lifestyle habits like regular exercise, eating healty foods and enjoying the social interactions with family and others.

During the pandemic, he said, “we couldn’t go to the gym, we were ordering food online and not socially interacting with our loved ones – that has a major effect on our health.”
The AHA made a fundamental plea to the public, he said. “Now is the time to get back to the rhythm – exercise more, eat better and spend more time with your families.”

Those are concrete examples of steps to take to improve health and reduce stress. But  diagnostic tests performed by medical professionals are needed to determine if high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels may also be affecting your overall heart health.

Akhter said that 1 in 2 U.S. adults have hypertension – high blood pressure – but only 1 in 4 have it under control.

He recommends that his patients try to consume less than 2 grams of sodium a day, which may mean scrutinizing food labels. In addition, he recommends 30 minutes of exercise most days, limiting alcohol use and taking medicine that is prescribed for hypertension.

Women and African Americans are two groups that are underrepresented in heart studies, he said.

Maria Parham Health promoted National Wear Red Day on Feb. 4 as a way to “express a solidarity with women who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. He said it’s the number one killer in women.

Women may experience different symptoms than men, he said, adding that is a contributing factor to the under-diagnosis of heart disease in women.

Similarly, African Americans are underrepresented in studies of heart health.

The goal is equitable health for all, Akhter said, who said that in his practice, he works hard to tailor therapies to the individual patients.

 

Donate To Cooperative Extension Food Drive To Create Meal Bags For Up To 10 Families

/by

The Vance County center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension is hosting a food drive in advance of the 36th annual Small Farms Week, which will be observed March 21-26, 2022. The statewide event, presented by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, recognizes the contributions of small farmers across the state’s 100 counties.

The Vance food drive will continue until March 11, but this year’s format looks a little different. Instead of a general collection of canned goods and nonperishables, county staff will collect nonperishable ingredients for a family meal. Each extension office will be putting together meal bags for up to 10 families of four to five people. The Vance County center office will be collecting items for salmon burgers and sweet potato oven fries. Please see the flyer for ingredients needed to fill our meal bags.

Here is a list of items being collected:

  • Low-sodium sweet potatoes
  • Canola oil
  • 75-oz. can pink or red salmon
  • Green onions
  • Red bell pepper
  • Saltine-style crackers, unsalted tops
  • Lemon juice
  • Eggs
  • Plain low-fat yogurt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Cooking spray
  • Whole-wheat buns
  • Bibb lettuce
  • Tomatoes
  • Lemon pepper seasoning blend

All food collected through the food drive will be donated to ACTS (Area Christians Together in Service). Anyone interested in donating to this food drive can bring items to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center office at 305 Young Street in Henderson.

For more information, please call 252-438-8188 or contact Nitasha Kearney, EFNEP Educator at ndkearney@ncat.edu or Wayne Rowland at dwrowlan@ncat.edu.

Thank you in advance for donating to those in hunger in Vance County.

Oak Level United Church of Christ Old-Fashioned Service and Take-Out Brunch

/by

The Christian Women Working Together of Oak Level United Church of Christ in Drewry will have for the public an old-fashioned heritage church service and take out brunch this Sunday, February 20th after church.

The food will be ready and served for take out only.

Mrs. Mary Ragland Reid told WIZS the menu will be baked chicken, greens, tomato pudding, yams, fatback and black eyed peas, homemade rolls, cornbread, butter-pecan cake and lemonade.

Worship begins at 11 a.m. for the morning service.

The to-go plates will be served after the service.

It will be an old fashioned church service, complete with old fashioned dress attire, and delicious food.

Everyone is invited.

Located at 5631 Jacksontown Rd, Manson, NC 27553.

Home And Garden Show

/by

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN

  • When doing pruning always remember PPE is always needed.
  • When purchasing vegetable transplants, look for stocky, deep green plants with healthy roots. If possible, select plants with no or few flowers.
  • Garden Tiller hard to start roll it outside in sunshine may help it start
  • Check your lawn for cool season weeds. They may be very tiny, but the warm spell over the next few days will present a good treatment window.
  • On warm days 70F or warmer provide ventilation in greenhouses and cold frames if growing plants in them.
  • Be sure to include some herb plants in your spring planting plans. Herbs like dill, basil, cilantro and others are easy to grow. The taste is unparalleled and they will also help out beneficial insects.
  • We have excellent gardening publications at Cooperative Extension
  • If you’re thinking about planting shrubs this spring, there’s no reason to wait. Planting them early gives more time for root growth before summer heat arrives.
  • Always check moisture level of garden soil before tilling that soil

 

Got To Be NC Festival Set For May 20-22 At State Fairgrounds

/by

Planning is underway for the 2022 Got to Be NC Festival and registration is open now for commercial vendors and homegrown marketplace vendors to participate in the three-day event coming up in May.

The annual event will be held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh from May 20-22. It will feature food, wine and beer from across the state, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

The festival also will feature one of the largest displays of antique tractors and farm equipment in the Southeast, and organizers are looking for tractor collectors and clubs to be part of the event. Plans include a daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds for tractors in working order. Participation is free and open to individuals and clubs, but pre-registration is required. Contact Pat Short at 336.706.9796 to register or for questions. National farm broadcaster Max Armstrong will be on hand to announce the Sunday, May 22, tractor parade lineup.

Food concessionaires, commercial vendors and organizations interested in exhibiting at the festival have until March 1 to complete their application at ncstatefair.org. For more information, contact Letrice Midgett, commercial space administrator, at 919-839-4502 or email at Letrice.Midgett@ncagr.gov or phone her at 919.839.4502.

April 1 is the deadline for North Carolina-based food and beverage companies to register for the festival. Prospective vendors must be members of the Got to Be NC marketing program. Got to Be NC program members should contact Sherry Barefoot at sherry.barefoot@ncagr.gov with questions.

Registration forms and vendor applications for the Homegrown Marketplace are available at https://gottobenc.com/event/gtbnc-festival/.

2022 Alive After Five Concert Dates Announced

/by

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce has released the 2022 Alive After Five Concert series dates and currently is accepting sponsorships at various levels from area businesses.

The 2022 season kicks off Thursday, April 28 in downtown Oxford when the Carolina Soul Band comes to town. Downtown Creedmoor will host The Pizazz Band at the second concert on Thursday, June 9 and the final concert of the series will be Thursday, Sept. 22 back in downtown Oxford. The band will be announced at a later date, according to Chamber Executive Director Lauren Roberson.

Sponsorships are all three events are available now, according to information from the Chamber. Roberson invites other sponsors to join presenting sponsor Duke Energy. The sponsorship opportunities cover all three concerts:

  • Band Sponsor: $2,500

Company name & logo on banner at each event, company name in press releases, social media, Chamber’s website, t-shirt, physical and digital copies of posters. Company may set up a booth and advertise at each event.

  • Boardwalk Sponsor: $1,500 

Company name on banner at each event, physical and digital poster, social media, Chamber’s websiteand t-shirt.

  • Shagger Sponsor: $1,000 

Company name on event poster, banner, and social media.

  • Wristband Sponsor (1): $500 

Company Name on wristbands at all three events.

  • Check-In Table Sponsor (2): $500 

Company Name on signage at check in table at all three events

  • High Tide Sponsor: $250 

Company name featured in monthly newsletter and in press release at the end of the concert series in September.

Contact the Chamber office at 919.693.6125 to learn more.

McGregor Hall

The Local Skinny! McGregor Hall — A Lot To Look Forward To

/by

 

 

Click Play

That familiar saying “the show must go on” holds true for the way Mark Hopper feels about upcoming events at McGregor Hall. Events that had been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are being rescheduled and Hopper said there’s a lot to look forward to.

Garret Davis’s “Living with Ruthie Mae” has been rescheduled for Sunday, Mar. 20 at 2 p.m.

Ticketholders need only show up and will be honored at the door, Hopper told John C. Rose during Tuesday’s Town Talk.

Tickets are still available for “Living with Ruthie Mae” at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557.

On April 22, the Duke Ellington Orchestra will bring the Big Band sound to McGregor Hall. On this date, Margaritas with Mazatlán will take place, he said, noting a change in the original schedule. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.

A “constant string” of dance competitions are scheduled to be held starting in March, Hopper said. A smaller, more local competition was held last weekend, setting the stage for the upcoming events.

“They’ll start in earnest in March,” Hopper said, adding that they will get a lot of people here in the motels and spending money in the community.”

Events at McGregor Hall help to increase visitors to the area, which in turn pumps some extra dollars into the economy. That was part of the vision since McGregor Hall’s inception.

As chair of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, Hopper said he couldn’t be prouder of the way the community has supported McGregor Hall during its first five and half years in operation.

“We should have been bankrupt in two years,” Hopper said, reflecting on the early days of the cultural arts center. “But we’re solvent and paying our bills and still able to bring good quality entertainment to the area. Some funding is pandemic-related and comes from grants from entities like the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Community Foundation and the John W. Polk Foundation.

But it’s the support from the local business community that Hopper said has been something special. “It’s been extraordinary,” he said. And when events were suspended or cancelled because of the pandemic, Hopper said that’s when the business community stepped up.

“They know what we’re offering and what we bring to the community,” he said. “They value what we’re offering.”

One offering will be observing the 50th anniversary of the Henderson Rec Players. This group has become a regional operation, drawing actors from towns like Hillsborough, Fayetteville and Fuquay-Varina. Hopper said it’s a wonderful opportunity for children in the community to get to work alongside semi-professional and amateur actors.

In true dramatic fashion, Hopper left us with a cliff-hanger: stay tuned for a major announcement coming up this summer…

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ to learn more.

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.