Franklin Co. Planning & Inspections Director Scott Hammerbacher Named Assistant County Manager

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— information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

 

Franklin County has named county Planning & Inspections director Scott Hammerbacher as assistant county manager.

Hammerbacher fills a vacancy created by Will Doerfer, who resigned in October 2024. Hammerbacher has worked for the county for 19 years – 16 years as planning and inspections director.

“I am looking forward to expanding my service to Franklin County as an assistant county manager,” said Hammerbacher. “I have enjoyed my time in the Planning Department and am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to the County Manager’s office.”

Previously, he served as a planner in both Holly Springs and Reading, PA and as a construction manager in Ocean City, MD. He was named Franklin County Employee of the Year in 2009.

“Scott brings a wealth of planning and project management experience to the County Manager’s office as assistant county manager,” said Ryan Preble, interim county manager.

Hammerbacher received a bachelor’s degree in geography with a concentration in environmental planning from Salisbury State University in Salisbury, MD.

 

Granville Health System Foundation’s Sam Perry Scholarship Application Window Now Open

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The application window is open for the Granville Health System Foundation’s annual Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on April 30, 2025.

The GHS Foundation will name the 2025 recipient of the $1,000 award by the end of May, according to information from Marketing & Foundation Director Lauren B. Roberson. The scholarship will be pair toward the recipient’s tuition in August 2025. It’s a one-time scholarship, but recipients may reapply for as many years as they are in school.

In 2009, the Granville Health System Board of Trustees and the GHS Foundation Board of Directors established a scholarship fund in honor of Sam Perry, a Physician’s Assistant whose specialized medical care earned him deep respect from both patients and peers throughout his career at Granville Health System.

Every year, the GHS Foundation awards its Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship to a Granville County resident who has been accepted into a two-year or four-year Allied Health Program at an accredited school with the intention to pursue a career in the healthcare field. Programs eligible for this scholarship include clinical laboratory sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiological science, pharmacy, RN, BSN, ADN, LPN, dentistry and related careers, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner.

Visit www.ghshospital.org/ghs-foundation to find the application and to review the criteria for submission.

SportsTalk: Greatest Sports Radio/TV Moments and Our All-Time Favorites

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SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th

Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis speak on the all-time greatest sports calls ever! The guys also reminisce on their favorite SportsCasters and Sports Broadcasts. Right here on SportsTalk!

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‘Pink With A Passion’ Event Saturday, Apr. 12 In Warrenton

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The 4th annual Pink With A Passion Cancer Walk will take place on Saturday, Apr. 12 and the public is invited to come out and be a part of this inspiring community event, whose theme is “Walk With Strength: Fight Cancer In All Colors.”

The activities will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Warren County Recreational Complex, located at 840 US-158 bypass in Warrenton.

The Mammogram Bus will be onsite again this year, offering 25 free 3D mammogram screenings, according to Evelyn Tunstall Smith, one of the event organizers. Reserve a spot here: https://appointments.invisiondiagnostics.com/appoinment/

A Tree of Hope ceremony will provide a special moment of remembrance and strength for those who have lost their lives to cancer as well as survivors of the disease.

There will be a live band, a DJ, food trucks, vendors and plenty of kid-friendly activities – bring the whole family for a day full of fun, connection and celebration.

Register at  https://forms.gle/nqyZuxN9fDgayDM86

Event t-shirts are available, too. Order online and pick up on the day of the event, or contact Amena Wilson at 252.213.5735 before April 5 to arrange pickup before the event.  Purchase t-shirts at
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/5EJMZKDZ5DTWS

To learn more about Pink With A Passion, visit: www.pinkwithapassion.org

(This story was originally published March 14, 2025 on WIZS Radio and WIZS.com)

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Visible Changes in Early-Blooming Trees

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On the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report with Michael Ellington:

Today’s show highlights visible changes in early-blooming trees as proof that warm weather is on the horizon. Also mentioned are reminders for exciting upcoming events:

Community Garden Volunteer Form (March 29th, April 11th)

https://go.ncsu.edu/vcrfmgarden

Food Farmacy – A Health and Wellness Event (May 2nd)

https://go.ncsu.edu/foodfarmacy

Vance County Regional Farmers Market Information (Opening Day May 3rd)

https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/vance-county-regional-farmers-market/

Bradford Pear Tree Bounty Program

https://www.treebountync.com/

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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Henderson Police Make Drug Arrest During Call About Suspicious Activity

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— from the Henderson Police Department

On March 14, 2025, officers from the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of South Elizabeth Street in response to reports of suspicious activity. While investigating the situation, officers made contact with an individual, later identified as Qwmaine Knott, who attempted to flee from a vehicle.

During his attempt to escape, Knott was seen discarding a package in his possession. Officers quickly apprehended Knott and recovered the package, which was later determined to contain approximately 6,950 dosage units of suspected heroin.

Following a thorough investigation, Knott was charged with three counts of Trafficking in Opium/Heroin and one count of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for the Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Due to pretrial release conditions, Knott was denied bond and transferred to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

 

The Local Skinny! Aviation Academies at the Henderson-Oxford Airport

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The Henderson-Oxford Airport is one of a dozen airports to get state funding to host summer academies for students in grades K-12 who want to learn more about aviation and the aerospace industry.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation’s Division of Aviation has awarded grants of up to $5,000 for these smaller airports to have programs for young people, according to information from NCDOT.

“We’re thrilled to partner with airports across the state to offer these academies,” said Nick Short, interim director of the NCDOT Division of Aviation. “Not only do students have an incredible time learning about aviation, but they also gain valuable insight into the career opportunities available in this dynamic and growing industry. It’s about sparking curiosity and showing them that the sky really is the limit.”

The academies are designed to engage students in hands-on activities, interactive lessons and behind-the-scenes experiences that bring the aviation industry to life. Participants can look forward to flight simulator sessions, airport tours, aircraft demonstrations and opportunities to connect with aviation professionals who share their passion for the skies. Triangle North Executive Airport in Louisburg is also participating in the summer academy program.

The ACE Academy Grant Program is a key component of the Division of Aviation’s mission to support aerospace and aviation workforce development. By funding these academies, the Division is helping to cultivate a pipeline of skilled professionals who will contribute to the state’s robust aviation sector.

Parents and students interested in participating in this year’s ACE Academies can learn more by visiting the NCDOT web page devoted to the academies, which contains contact information for each.

James N. Brown, Jr., director of Customized Training at Vance-Granville Community College, is the contact person for both local airports. Contact Brown at 252.738.3520 or brownj@vgcc.edu.

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TownTalk: World FlingGolf Tournament Coming to Kerr Lake Country Club

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FlingGolf is a “thing,” and it’s coming to Henderson this weekend.

Exactly what, you may ask, is this thing called fling?

Well, picture, if you will, a lacrosse stick – you know, it’s a long stick with a little basket or cup on one end of it.

Now picture a group of folks, those modified lacrosse sticks in hand, on a golf course. And instead of teeing up the ball in the tee box, the golf ball is nestled in that little cup and gets flung instead of whacked with a driver down the fairway.

Sound interesting? That’s what Johnathan Norton thought when he first started reading about FlingGolf five or so years ago.

It’s been around for a decade or more, but it’s just been in the past few years that the word’s gotten out about this novel sport. And now Henderson has landed the first stop on a national fling golf tour.

Johnathan and his father David Norton were guests on Monday’s TownTalk to talk about the North Carolina Open set for Mar. 29 and 30 at Kerr Lake Country Club. There’s an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start both days, and spectators are welcome. So far, more than 40 people have registered for the tournament, which kicks off the 2025 New Swarm Tour, a 10-tournament series that takes players up and down the East Coast, as well as West Virginia, Missouri and California.

“A lot of the top players will be here,” Johnathan said, including one who lives in Durham, who Johnathan said is the world’s longest flinger with flings of 240 or 250 yards.

According to David, one of the advantages to playing FlingGolf is that no alterations to the golf course are necessary. “You play it just like golf. You just play it like that and have fun with it,” he said.

And players don’t need much equipment, Johnathan said. “One fling stick, one golf ball and you’re good to go.”

Tournament rules state that players have to use the same stick all the way from the tee “fling” to the hole for the entire round; everyday players can choose from among different sticks if they’d like, more like traditional golfers do during a round.

The strategy is quite similar to traditional golf, too, the local FlingGolfers agree. And just like golf clubs, fling sticks are made of different composite materials to accommodate players’ skills and needs.

So when golfers need to “fling” around a dog leg right, they can put a little English on that fling stick and send that ball, hopefully, in the right direction. Ditto with sandtraps and other hazards, same as regular golf.

“There are some people on the tour who are really good at it – I’m still learning,” he said, but “it’s definitely possible…shot-shaping definitely comes into play.”

Visit https://flinggolf.com/pages/wlf to register for the tournament.

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