TownTalk: Kerr-Tar Senior Games Coming Up

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Registration continues through Friday, Mar. 7 for the upcoming Senior Games and Silver Arts, giving area seniors a chance to participate in a variety of sports as well as photography, crafts, handiwork and literary compositions.

The events will take place between Mar. 21 and May 16 throughout the five counties that make up the Kerr-Tar region, said Michael Patterson, a family caregiver specialist for KTCOG.

Registrations can be completed online at https://torch.ncseniorgames.org/  or in person at any county senior center. A $20 entry fee should accompany the registration, Patterson said on Monday’s TownTalk.

“This is a great opportunity for older adults to participate in games and arts that they are passionate about,” Patterson said.

Over the past couple of years, about 230 people took part in the events, from pickleball and tennis to track events and basketball.

There will two or three events each week over the next couple of months, with the Silver Arts exhibition taking place on closing day, which will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 16 at the Person County Office Building.

The top three finishers in each event will have the opportunity to move on to the state Senior Games competition, but Patterson said the local games are about more than just winning an award.

“One of the biggest benefits is the socialization opportunity,” he said. The games are a chance for older adults to engage and talk and have a good time.

Individuals compete against others in their general age group – there’s a 50-54 age group, a 55-59 group, and the groupings keep going up in 5-year increments.

As one of the event coordinators, Patterson said it is “so inspiring and empowering to see our older adults passionate about their wellness, passionate about participating and having a good time.”

Contact Patterson at 252.436.2040 x 6072 to learn more, or Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 x2036.

 

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Single Gunshot Wound Killed Child

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— press release from Henderson Chief of Police Marcus Barrow 2/28/25

This morning at approximately 9:30, first responders were dispatched to a residence on Gary Street in the City of Henderson following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a minor with a single gunshot wound. EMTs and other first responders provided medical assistance, but, unfortunately, the minor died as a result of the injury.

Preliminary information indicates that the incident took place inside the victim’s residence. Another minor living in the same home had accessed an unsecured firearm and discharged it, striking the deceased. The firearm involved in the incident has been recovered, along with other evidence. The investigation will require time and various resources, including consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.

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Maintenance At Dozens Of CSX RR Crossings In March; Drivers, Expect Detours

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Drivers in Vance County who typically cross the CSX railroad tracks, the one that goes right through downtown Henderson, may encounter a detour or two starting March 3 and continuing until March 28th.

Perhaps you’ve already seen the piles of crossties along the line. Maintenance work is scheduled, with some closures lasting from 2-to-5 days. Major crossings like those at Warrenton Road, Andrews Avenue, Chavasse Avenue and Bearpond Road are expected to be completed on the same day.

New railroad ties will be installed on the track from Manson almost as far south as Franklinton.  Work is scheduled to begin in Warren County, continue through Vance County and end in Franklin County.

Initial projections have the work at Warrenton Road being done March 10 with the work going through Henderson that week and reaching Bearpond Road on March 17.

Southern Commercial Development is the traffic control contractor coordinating the project for CSX and will be in charge of creating detours during the various road closures.

There are 32 crossings in Vance County that will see work, as well as two each in Warren and Franklin counties. Eleven of the 32 involve either private roads or one-way access roads and work crews will try to complete those projects within 24 hours.

According to the Director of Media Relations Austin Staton of CSX, the project is estimated to take four weeks and should be wrapped up by Mar. 28.

The length of time the railroad crossings are closed will be dictated by the type of maintenance they are set to receive, but crossings will not be closed for the duration of the project.

To see which crossings are scheduled for maintenance, click on the link below, which lists each crossing and the estimated dates the maintenance should occur:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1IX49r53Iuc2CC94RdcjTDQzuWHiclT0&usp=sharing

Maria Parham Health Welcomes Dr. Leslie S. Anewenah To Surgical Staff

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— information courtesy of Maria Parham Health 

Maria Parham Health has announced that Dr. Leslie S. Anewenah has joined the medical team as a general surgeon.

Anewenah brings experience in general and colorectal surgery and most recently was chief of surgery at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, Ill.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Anewenah to our medical team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “His wealth of experience, leadership in surgery, and dedication to advancing healthcare make him an excellent addition to our community. We look forward to his positive impact on our patients and the continued success of our surgical department.”

With a strong background in both clinical and academic settings, Anewenah has been at the forefront of surgical practice and research. He has worked with various prestigious medical institutions, including Pana Community Hospital and HSHS Medical Group, where he performed advanced surgeries and led surgical teams to improve patient care and outcomes.

He completed a fellowship in colorectal surgery at Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates and a general surgery residency at Mercy Catholic Medical Center. His broad experience spans various specialties that include colorectal surgery, minimally invasive techniques and complex cancer surgeries.

Anewenah is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal  Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. He has presented at surgical conferences about his research and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles.

His expertise is matched by his dedication to patient care. With a proven track record of working closely with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, Anewenah makes sure his patients’ needs are met with the highest standards of care. His leadership as a member of the Medical Executive In addition, his leadership as a member of the Medical Executive Committee at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital showcases his ability to guide medical teams and elevate healthcare delivery.

Anewenah will be seeing patients at Maria Parham Surgical Associates. He is excited to bring his experience in general surgery to the Henderson community and contribute to the high-quality care that Maria Parham Health is known for.

Vance County Logo

Jennifer Williams Appointed As County Tax Administrator

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Jennifer Williams has been appointed to the position of Vance County Tax Administrator, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry.

Williams, who most recently served as deputy tax assessor in the Vance County Tax Office, began her new duties on Monday, Feb. 24, succeeding Porcha Brooks, who is retiring.

“We are thrilled to have Jennifer promoted into this role,” Perry said. “With her extensive experience in tax administration and commitment to serving our community, I am
confident that she will bring strong leadership and expertise to this important role.”

Williams began her career in 2004 in Wake County in ad valorem taxation. After 13 years there, she worked as assistant tax administrator in Vance County and tax listing manager in Chatham County before coming back to Vance County as deputy tax assessor.

Williams has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ashford University and is a certified Real & Personal Property Appraiser. She also is a certified Assessor.

Catawba Sheriff’s Office Looking For More Possible Fraud Victims In Multi-County Conspiracy Case

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From the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office

Investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division are asking for the public’s help in identifying additional persons who may have been victimized in a multi-county fraud conspiracy.

Virgil Garrett, 64, and his son Noah Garrett, 27, have been charged with obtaining property by false pretense and felony conversion, for allegedly obtaining commercial vehicles and heavy equipment through rental agreements and then fraudulently selling them to buyers across western North Carolina. These buyers were allegedly convinced by this father-son duo they had a legal right to sell this equipment. Investigators believe this fraudulent practice has been occurring for several months or longer.

Noah Garrett is currently held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under a $750,000 secure bond. Virgil Garrett is currently held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under a $600,000 secure bond.

“We are confident there are more victims out there who have not yet come forward” said, Sergeant Stobbe, lead investigator in the case. “If you or someone you know has been deceived by these individuals, we strongly urge you to contact our office. Even if you didn’t realize you were a victim at the time, we want to hear from you.”

Multiple charges are pending against the Garretts. Investigators are working to identify the full extent of this operation and the total amount of financial loss to the victims.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized or who has information related to these cases is encouraged to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828.464.3112 or astobbe@catawbacountync.gov.

SportsTalk: Realignment through the Eyes of an Athletic Director

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SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th 

Oxford Prep Athletic Director John Hammett joins George Hoyle and Scout Hughes to talk about what goes into conference realignment as well as the things happening at Oxford Prep with the spring sports season upon us. That and much more on SportsTalk!

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NC Coop Extension

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Vendor Courses

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This is the time of year when local gardeners are perusing seed catalogs or checking in with local nurseries about when the vegetable slips will be ready to purchase.  The April 15 frost date seems a long way off, but gardeners are planning now in order to reap the benefits – literally – when spinach, peas, beans and more are ready to harvest.

Vance County Cooperative Extension is hosting a series of vendor workshops during March for anyone interested in participating in farmers markets in Vance, Granville or other nearby counties.

Vance County Agriculture Agent Michael Ellington said the classes will be held on Saturday mornings beginning Mar. 8 and will continue on Mar. 15, 22 and 29. The first three sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Mar. 29 session will last from 10 a.m to 1 p.m.

All sessions will be held at Salem United Methodist Church, 4151 Salem Rd., Oxford.

Each session has a different focus, Ellington explained.

  • 8 – the basics of business
  • 15 – marketing – product placement for optimum visibility on tables in the market
  • 22 – knowing your customers and follow-up to sales
  • 29 – basic food safety

Vendors often sell at more than one farmers market, Ellington said, so it just makes sense that these vendor trainings are offered to individuals from numerous counties throughout the area.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market may see a higher volume than some of the other area markets because of tourism – folks visiting Kerr Lake or traveling along I-85 may choose to stop in, he noted.

He would like to see the Vance market be an incubator market for others who are just getting started in growing produce or for those who are interested in expanding their existing production.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will have a new feature this year, if all goes according to plan.

Ellington said volunteers and others have been whacking away at kudzu to create a community garden on the campus of the farmers market.

More volunteers are needed at upcoming workdays, he said:

  • Mar. 21 – working on establishing garden borders – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Mar. 29 – marking walkways and preparing for stone installation – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Apr. 11 – installing garden beds – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“We want to have the community realize that this is their market, and the garden is theirs,” Ellington said. The community garden would be a perfect spot for those who want a garden but lack the space or the confidence to plant, tend and harvest on their own.

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