Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity provides a multitude of programs throughout its service area that gets right to the heart of its mission of supporting people and helping them make their lives better.
For Dr. Abdul Rasheed, CEO and senior advisor to the FVWOpp board of directors, that’s what it’s all about. Rasheed said a community must leverage its assets in order to excel. “The first thing that we have to do is invest in our assets,” he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “Our Number 1 asset is people.”
Rasheed and Roy Brown, FVWOpp’s Media and Communications coordinator, talked about an upcoming podcast and live conversation called “Where Our DOGs At?” whose target audience includes males in the community.
DOG stands for “Dads on Guard,” Rasheed explained, and he said FVW is launching the live conversation and podcast to help men of all ages identify positive norms and principles, creating a “moral compass” to help guide men in their own lives and then translating that to their own families and the larger community.
Several local leaders are scheduled to take part in the program, including Eric Sanchez, founder of Henderson Collegiate, Jamon Glover, Incredible Years Program Coordinator at Vance County Cooperative Extension and Anthony Ragland, owner of Southern Charm event venue in downtown Henderson.
“All of these young men are excellent role models that even an old dog like myself can learn from,” Rasheed said. He and Brown will also participate in the conversations, rounding out the complement of young fathers and community leaders.
FVWOpp will be making announcements on its social media platforms soon about how to participate in the program.
With a $10,000 grant from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, Rasheed said FVWOpp is going to be able to strengthen its capacity to reach into the community by building positive pathways that allow individuals to survive and thrive.
The theme of the first podcast is safety and gun violence. “We do have a problem here in our area,” Rasheed said. “I think our police are doing the best job they can with the resources they have available to them. We have to rally and support law enforcement in our community,” he said.
Offering young people ways to access workforce development, certificate programs, paths to graduation and mental health resources help young men look to something other than criminal activity, guns and violence.
When Brown was in the Navy, he got to travel extensively and lived in U.S. cities where he saw Black professionals – doctors, lawyers, business people – being successful in places that supported them.
“When I came back home, I thought, ‘why can’t we do that here?’” Brown said. Programs like the Community Services Block Grant that helps individuals pursue certificate programs that help them get better jobs is just one program that FVWOpp works with.
The Section 8 program is another way to support renters secure housing with private property owners by providing a rental subsidy.
A weatherization program helps mostly senior adults and people with disabilities better insulate their homes to keep them warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
These programs, among others offered by FVWOpp help people in the community establish a better quality of life. Helping individuals helps neighborhoods, too, which ripples out into the larger community, Rasheed said.
Partnerships with city and county reap benefits, too. The area’s largest Headstart location is at the former Eaton Johnson campus, with upwards of 100 children getting high-quality instruction in 5-star state certified classrooms.
This Thursday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m., FVWOpp will welcome Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Dept. of Commerce Reginald Speight to Henderson. This arm of the state government is focused on strengthening rural communities across the state.
Rasheed invites the community to attend this event as a way to establish relationships for positive growth and development for the area.
Visit www.fvwopp.com to learn about all the programs the center offers.
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TownTalk: FVW Opportunity Focused On Supporting Individuals, Communities To Be Their Best
/by WIZS StaffFranklin Vance Warren Opportunity provides a multitude of programs throughout its service area that gets right to the heart of its mission of supporting people and helping them make their lives better.
For Dr. Abdul Rasheed, CEO and senior advisor to the FVWOpp board of directors, that’s what it’s all about. Rasheed said a community must leverage its assets in order to excel. “The first thing that we have to do is invest in our assets,” he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “Our Number 1 asset is people.”
Rasheed and Roy Brown, FVWOpp’s Media and Communications coordinator, talked about an upcoming podcast and live conversation called “Where Our DOGs At?” whose target audience includes males in the community.
DOG stands for “Dads on Guard,” Rasheed explained, and he said FVW is launching the live conversation and podcast to help men of all ages identify positive norms and principles, creating a “moral compass” to help guide men in their own lives and then translating that to their own families and the larger community.
Several local leaders are scheduled to take part in the program, including Eric Sanchez, founder of Henderson Collegiate, Jamon Glover, Incredible Years Program Coordinator at Vance County Cooperative Extension and Anthony Ragland, owner of Southern Charm event venue in downtown Henderson.
“All of these young men are excellent role models that even an old dog like myself can learn from,” Rasheed said. He and Brown will also participate in the conversations, rounding out the complement of young fathers and community leaders.
FVWOpp will be making announcements on its social media platforms soon about how to participate in the program.
With a $10,000 grant from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, Rasheed said FVWOpp is going to be able to strengthen its capacity to reach into the community by building positive pathways that allow individuals to survive and thrive.
The theme of the first podcast is safety and gun violence. “We do have a problem here in our area,” Rasheed said. “I think our police are doing the best job they can with the resources they have available to them. We have to rally and support law enforcement in our community,” he said.
Offering young people ways to access workforce development, certificate programs, paths to graduation and mental health resources help young men look to something other than criminal activity, guns and violence.
When Brown was in the Navy, he got to travel extensively and lived in U.S. cities where he saw Black professionals – doctors, lawyers, business people – being successful in places that supported them.
“When I came back home, I thought, ‘why can’t we do that here?’” Brown said. Programs like the Community Services Block Grant that helps individuals pursue certificate programs that help them get better jobs is just one program that FVWOpp works with.
The Section 8 program is another way to support renters secure housing with private property owners by providing a rental subsidy.
A weatherization program helps mostly senior adults and people with disabilities better insulate their homes to keep them warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
These programs, among others offered by FVWOpp help people in the community establish a better quality of life. Helping individuals helps neighborhoods, too, which ripples out into the larger community, Rasheed said.
Partnerships with city and county reap benefits, too. The area’s largest Headstart location is at the former Eaton Johnson campus, with upwards of 100 children getting high-quality instruction in 5-star state certified classrooms.
This Thursday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m., FVWOpp will welcome Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Dept. of Commerce Reginald Speight to Henderson. This arm of the state government is focused on strengthening rural communities across the state.
Rasheed invites the community to attend this event as a way to establish relationships for positive growth and development for the area.
Visit www.fvwopp.com to learn about all the programs the center offers.
CLICK PLAY!
VGCC Foundation’s ‘Fill The Pantry’ Craft Fair Set For Friday, Oct. 10 At Civic Center
/by WIZS Staff— Information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College Foundation
The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation is planning its third annual Fill the Pantry Craft Fair on Friday, Oct. 10 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the College’s Civic Center in Henderson. The event supports the VGCC food pantry, which provides essential resources to students in need. This indoor craft fair is open to the public.
Cost of admission will be three (3) canned goods, nonperishable food items, or paper goods at the door.
Join in for a day of shopping, community, food, raffles and giving back. Local vendors will offer a variety of handmade goods—perfect for early holiday shopping—while helping to stock the pantry shelves. In addition, grab a bite to eat from Bun on the Run or enjoy a coffee and/or treat from The Double Shot.
“With the holiday season quickly approaching, this show is a fantastic way to celebrate our local crafters while also supporting the community,” said Angela Douglas, VGCC Food Pantry Assistant. “We are excited to host this family-friendly event and help our students at the same time.”
Sheri Jones, VGCC Foundation associate director, said, “We are supported by donations from The Food Bank of North Central NC as well as one of the local Food Lion stores. We also do a weekly donation pick-up from Strong Arm Baking Company in Oxford and have employees who make monetary donations and product donations. Since we are able to do our event indoors, we have moved it to Friday afternoon and early evening this year so that it doesn’t compete with numerous other events – most outdoors – that take place on Saturdays in October.”
The VGCC Foundation is still accepting craft vendors to participate in this indoor community event, but spaces are limited. Craft vendors who would like to participate should complete the online Craft Show Interest Form. Vendor fees will be $25 for a 10 x 10 space plus a donated item to be used for raffles. For more information, please contact the Vance-Granville Community College Food Pantry at 252-738-3323 or douglasa@vgcc.edu.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 09-30-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe: All Things 4-H – Makayla Macon Spotlight
/by WIZS StaffMicah Sharpe, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Makayla Macon, a student at Vance County Middle School, talks with 4-H Agent Micah Sharpe to speak about her experiences and the activities that she has done at 4-H.
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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Warren County Schools Names New Principals At Warren Co. High, Northside Elementary
/by WIZS Staff— Information courtesy of Warren County Schools
Warren County Schools has appointed principals at Warren County High School and Northside Elementary School.
Dr. Lionel Kato and Dr. Tobias Hocutt, Sr. bring experience and a passion for helping students succeed with their collaborative approach to leadership, according to a press release from Crystal Myrick, director of Community Engagement and Communications for Warren County Schools.
With more than 25 years of experience in public education, Kato brings seasoned leadership and a proven track record of excellence to Warren County High School. His career began in 1999 as a high school social studies teacher at his alma mater, New Bern High School, before becoming a middle school math in Jones County.
Kato has served in school administration at every level, including four years as a middle school principal and three and a half years as a high school principal in Brunswick, Greene, and Pitt counties.
He was named North Carolina Media Administrator of the Year in 2011 and Pitt County Schools Principal of the Year in 2013. He later served in district leadership roles with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, such as Instructional Superintendent, Area Superintendent, and Chief Officer. In 2022 he completed the NC Aspiring Superintendents Program and received the Dr. Sam Houston, Jr. Leadership Award from the N.C. School Superintendents’ Association.
Before joining Warren County Schools, Kato was the assistant director for Student Support Services with Danville Public Schools in Virginia. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, he holds degrees from Fayetteville State University, East Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
“I am excited about returning to North Carolina and joining the Eagles family,” Dr. Kato said. “Together, we will keep our eyes on the sky and soar to new heights.”
Dr. Tobias Hocutt Sr. brings nearly 16 years of experience in education, beginning his career in support roles as a custodian and bus driver. His journey into teaching began at Archer Lodge Middle School where he taught Social Studies for six years and was recognized as Outstanding First-Year Teacher in 2015. He also received the Johnston County Public Schools Leading WithThe Heart Award in 2017.
After earning his masters in School Administration from Barton College, Hocutt served as assistant principal at Cleveland High School in Clayton, and later as assistant principal at Four Oaks Middle School. He was named Johnston County Public Schools 2023–2024 Assistant Principal of the Year. In 2023, he earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Carolina University.
“We are excited and proud to welcome Dr. Lionel Kato and Dr.Tobias Hocutt Sr. to Warren County Schools,” said Warren Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Montague-Davis. “Their extensive leadership experience and unwavering commitment to student success align perfectly with our district’s mission and values. With a shared vision for growth, equity, and academic excellence, we are confident they will make a significant and positive impact on our students, staff, and the broader community, helping to drive our schools forward.”
For more information, visit https://www.warrenk12nc.org/
SportsTalk: Football Recap from the Weekend
/by Scout HughesScout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap the weekend that was with all the football that happened.
High School Football Scores from Week 6:
College Scores for our area in Week 5:
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The Local Skinny! County Contract Extension With Rescue Squad Ends Sept. 30
/by Laura GabelThe 90-day contract extension between the county and the Vance County Lifesaving and Rescue Squad Inc. officially ends tomorrow – Sept. 30.
According to Rescue Squad Chief Doyle Carpunky, the rescue squad’s offer to continue responding to calls at no cost to the county has been declined, but it is unclear whether the rescue squad will continue to be dispatched.
So what’s going to happen if the rescue squad gets dispatched on Oct. 1? Carpunky said he hasn’t had clarification from the county but told WIZS this morning that “we’re going to respond to the citizens of our community like we’ve always done.”
Requests from the rescue squad board president and the county fire association to meet with county staff and the county’s Public Safety Committee have been declined.
In an email to Rescue Squad Board President Bill Rainey, Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry stated that the rescue squad would be dispatched upon requests from volunteer fire departments or other partnering agencies. “We appreciate the Rescue Squad’s continuing operations in the County and the County’s 911 center has no problem dispatching upon request,” Perry stated in the email.
Perry told WIZS earlier Monday that the county commissioners will consider an updated operations plan at its November meeting and that the rescue squad will be dispatched upon request only, “not automatically since we don’t have a contract in place.”
Carpunky said the county is rewriting the mutual plan with no input from fire departments or from the rescue squad.
In response to an email from Rescue Squad President Bill Rainey requesting that the rescue squad continue to be dispatched to calls at no cost to the county, Perry listed several reasons why the county is not willing to accept that offer. The email, which Carpunky shared with WIZS, reads as follows:
I have received your request for a contract with no funding and automatic dispatch and I have the below concerns and these are reasons why we will not move forward with the request.
Staff will move forward with reviewing the current mutual aid agreement as well as ensuring that the Rescue Squad is dispatched upon request from other VFD or other partnering agencies. We appreciate the Rescue Squad’s continuing operations in the County and the County’s 911 center has no problem dispatching upon request.”
Perry said she had advised commissioners on the information contained in the email and said concerns should be shared with Assistant County Manager Jeremy Jones.
According to minutes from a Sept. 18 special called meeting of the Vance Fire Association, “Assistant Chief Rainey stated Vance Rescue was willing to contract directly with each department, and they had a contract which was distributed to all departments present to look over and would be mailed to the departments not present. As of 10/01/2025 Vance Rescue will be a volunteer department.
“It was stated the County would not be sending a contract and 911 will not be automatically dispatching Rescue after 09/30/2025. Concerns were expressed about filling this void by individual departments.”
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Maria Parham Health Radiation Oncology Suite Reopens With State-Of-The-Art Technology
/by WIZS Staff– information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer Donna Young
The community is invited to come out and take a look at the newly renovated and updated Radiation Oncology Suite at Maria Parham Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 9.
The re-opening celebration will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the MPH Cancer Center, according to information from MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young.
Attendees should enter through the hospital’s Cancer Center entrance.
After several months of renovation and equipment upgrades, the department is now home to a new, state-of-the-art linear accelerator – LINAC for short – an advanced piece of medical technology that delivers external beam radiation therapy with precision and care. This powerful machine uses high-frequency electromagnetic fields to create a high-energy beam of electrons, or X-rays, to target and treat cancerous tumors, all while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. LINAC is able to rotate around the patient and utilize advanced imaging, which provides the highest standard in modern radiation treatment.
With this new addition, Maria Parham will also have the new capability to do stereotactic body radiation therapy, known as SBRT in the medical field. SBRT is a type of external beam radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation to a tumor in fewer sessions (typically 1-5), compared to conventional radiation therapy which may require weeks of treatment. It uses advanced imaging and targeting technologies to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
In addition to showcasing the upgraded facility and technology, the event will also serve as an opportunity for guests to meet Dr. Ryan Fecteau, MD, PhD, Maria Parham Health’s new Radiation Oncologist.
“We are incredibly proud to offer this advanced technology to our patients and to continue raising the bar for cancer care in our region,” said Kimberly Smith, director of The Cancer Center at Maria Parham Health. “This event is not only a celebration of innovation but of our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality care close to home.”
Sign Up By Oct. 17 For Free Mammogram; Nov. 1 Event At Aycock Rec Center
/by Laura GabelInvision Diagnostics is bringing its Mammogram Bus to Aycock Rec Center on Saturday, Nov. 1 and now is the time to schedule a free mammogram. Phone 877.318.1349 to schedule an appointment. Sisters Speak Life founder Freddie Harris said six women had signed up as of Friday, Sept. 26. Sign up before Oct. 17 – they need a minimum of 15 scheduled appointments, or the bus will have to be cancelled, Harris said.
Sisters Speak Life is creating a video to help promote that Nov. 1 event. If you’re a breast cancer survivor, please send a headshot photo, along with the year you were diagnosed and a one-word description of yourself to be included in the video. In addition to the mammogram bus, there will be health-related resources for participants to learn about available services in the area.
When Harris was diagnosed with cancer, she said she found inspiration from people – family, friends and even strangers – who surrounded her with love and support.
She encourages people to come together, reach out and help each other. “It made a difference for me and I think it can make a difference for someone else.”
Join Sisters Speak Life at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 1 as participants tie pink ribbons on trees along Breckenridge Street to kick off the Pink Out campaign. Return at 5:30 p.m. for another community gathering at McGregor Hall as part of the Pink Out effort. Ribbons and t-shirts are available, too.
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/sistersspeaklife or https://sistersspeaklife.org/
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 09-29-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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