Beginning Aug. 1, Oxford residents who tether their dog could be in violation of a new city ordinance that carries a civil penalty of $100 for each day they are found to be out of compliance.
The board adopted the ordinance at their July 13 meeting. City Commissioner John Tovey said he brought the issue before the board several weeks ago “in response to a concern from a city resident about an older dog who was tied 24 hours a day.” Tovey told WIZS News Friday via email he went to see the situation for himself and “it was then I decided that the city needs to have an ordinance to stop this abuse.”
Community feedback since the ordinance was adopted has been “nothing but positive, very positive,” Tovey said, adding that there have been more reports of dogs being tied out all day, every day – “it’s good that light is being shed on this problem.”
Tovey researched laws and ordinances in other communities and states to see what, if any, policies are in place elsewhere.
Animal Control will make initial contact with a person not complying with the new ordinance. If the issue is not resolved, police may be called in, he said.
The objective of the ordinance is “to regulate the unattended restraint or tethering of dogs” and provides details to describe “acceptable tethering devices.”
“No person shall tether a dog to a tree, fence, post, dog house, or other stationary objects for more than three (3) hours total in a twenty-four (24) hour period,” the ordinance states. The rope or chain used has to be at least 10 feet long and fastened in a way to prevents the animal from getting tangled or causing itself harm.
A cable system is considered an acceptable form of tethering – for no more than the three hours specified in the ordinance, which also has details about how the tether is attached to the dog, as well as weight restrictions.
“Someone HAS to speak for the animals, we are (basically) a nation of animal lovers, but there are always a few who will abuse animals, it has to stop,” Tovey wrote.
Read the entire ordinance (here) or use https://www.oxfordnc.org and click on the Government tab and select Ordinances from the dropdown box.
Chamber: New Teacher Gift Bags for 2021
/by WIZS StaffSome 140 new teachers will arrive soon.
The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s annual tradition of new teacher gift bags continues.
Vance County Public Schools, Henderson Collegiate, Crossroads Christian School, Kerr-Vance Academy and Vance Charter School will benefit from your help packing the new teacher gift bags.
The Chamber is looking for donations from local business owners to pack into bags for these teachers including pens, pencils, pads, hand sanitizer, coupons / discount cards, key chains and other thoughtful, useful items.
If you or your business would like to donate an item for each teacher, the Chamber would greatly appreciate it.
Call 438-8414. Email sandra@hendersonvance.org.
The deadline for donations is Friday, July 23rd.
The Local Skinny! McClary To Speak At Living Stones Church Of God Worship Center in Oxford
/by John C. RoseWIZS has been asked to announce the appearance of a special guest speaker at Living Stones Church of God Worship Center.
First Lieutenant Patrick Cleburne McClary, III, USMC, Retired is a Vietnam War hero, and he will speak at Living Stones COG in conjunction with National Purple Heart Day.
National Purple Heart Day is August 7th and “Clebe” McClary, as he is known to thousands, will speak at Living Stones COG on August 8th.
The worship center is located at 6096 Tabbs Creek Road, Oxford.
Andy Roberson, Commander of American Legion Post 60, may be contacted for more information at 252-432-2432.
Praise and worship begins at 10:40 a.m., and guest speaker McClary will begin at 11 a.m.
Edward Woodlief, historian of Henderson American Legion Post 60, told WIZS News, “McClary is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, three purple hearts, the Audie Murphy award and numerous other awards given him for combat during the Vietnam War. McClary, a South Carolina native, was seriously wounded but continued to lead his men while under enemy fire. After numerous surgeries and a long rehabilitation, he has become the symbol of courage and hope for audiences around the world.”
McClary is online at clebemcclary.com, and the site says, “During the Vietnam War, while some of his contemporaries were staging anti-war protests and desecrating the American flag, the Lowcountry (South Carolina) native was serving as a platoon leader in the First Reconnaissance Battalion. On the battalion’s 19th patrol, the unit was attacked by the Viet Cong. Lieutenant McClary was seriously wounded, losing his left arm and left eye, yet he continued to lead his men. The numerous surgeries and long recovery period that followed could have taken a bitter toll, but he faced his rehabilitation with characteristic determination. In the years since, Lieutenant McClary has become a symbol of courage and hope to the many audiences around the world with whom he has shared his story.”
For more, click play.
WIZS Local News Audio 7-19-21 Noon
/by Bill HarrisThank you for listening to WIZS Radio, Your Community Voice!
Incumbents Only Filers in Kittrell and Middleburg
/by John C. RoseAll the filers for the upcoming November 2 elections in Kittrell and Middleburg are incumbents, and they all filed this week.
When the filing period closed at noon today (Friday), the filing list included:
The Middleburg list included:
Based on the information at hand, there would appear to be no contests. However, keep in mind Ray Bullock won as a write-in candidate in 2019 over someone who filed. Write ins can be a factor in such small precincts. Kittrell is and Middleburg is a complete precinct in and of itself.
In these respective municipalities within Vance County, a voter makes one choice for mayor and choses three from the list of names, or writes in a name, for commissioner/council person. Tunstall was elected in 2019 by write in as only Pulley and Floyd had filed that year.
New Tethering Ordinance Takes Effect Aug. 1 For Oxford Dog Owners
/by Laura GabelBeginning Aug. 1, Oxford residents who tether their dog could be in violation of a new city ordinance that carries a civil penalty of $100 for each day they are found to be out of compliance.
The board adopted the ordinance at their July 13 meeting. City Commissioner John Tovey said he brought the issue before the board several weeks ago “in response to a concern from a city resident about an older dog who was tied 24 hours a day.” Tovey told WIZS News Friday via email he went to see the situation for himself and “it was then I decided that the city needs to have an ordinance to stop this abuse.”
Community feedback since the ordinance was adopted has been “nothing but positive, very positive,” Tovey said, adding that there have been more reports of dogs being tied out all day, every day – “it’s good that light is being shed on this problem.”
Tovey researched laws and ordinances in other communities and states to see what, if any, policies are in place elsewhere.
Animal Control will make initial contact with a person not complying with the new ordinance. If the issue is not resolved, police may be called in, he said.
The objective of the ordinance is “to regulate the unattended restraint or tethering of dogs” and provides details to describe “acceptable tethering devices.”
“No person shall tether a dog to a tree, fence, post, dog house, or other stationary objects for more than three (3) hours total in a twenty-four (24) hour period,” the ordinance states. The rope or chain used has to be at least 10 feet long and fastened in a way to prevents the animal from getting tangled or causing itself harm.
A cable system is considered an acceptable form of tethering – for no more than the three hours specified in the ordinance, which also has details about how the tether is attached to the dog, as well as weight restrictions.
“Someone HAS to speak for the animals, we are (basically) a nation of animal lovers, but there are always a few who will abuse animals, it has to stop,” Tovey wrote.
Read the entire ordinance (here) or use https://www.oxfordnc.org and click on the Government tab and select Ordinances from the dropdown box.
Filing Period Ends For November Elections; Stovall’s Mayor Janet Parrott Retiring After 42 Years
/by Laura GabelThe town of Stovall will choose a new mayor for the first time in more than four decades in the upcoming elections in November; incumbent Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent will face challenger Sherry Shavon Hester and the three other incumbent mayors of Butner, Creedmoor and Stem are running unopposed.
The filing period ended today (Friday) at noon for the Nov. 2 municipal elections, said Tonya Burnette, county elections director.
Janet Parrott, Stovall’s mayor, did not file for re-election. The two candidates who filed are Curtis S. Pugh and current town board member Mike Williford.
Parrott told WIZS News she is retiring from her role as mayor after 42 years. She was first elected in 1979 when she was 24 years old, she added, but will continue to work as administrator for the town of Stovall.
Eight candidates filed for seats on the Oxford Board of Commissioners – incumbents Patricia Fields and S. Quon Bridges filed for re-election and newcomers Bryan Cohn, Courtney Crudup, Walkiria Jones, Melanie Kaye Moseley, John L. Oliver and B. Seth Lumpkins also filed.
Three candidates for Stovall Commissioner are Douglas Lunsford, Jr., Carl T. Roberts and Tonya Sneed.
Susan Cope, Kevin Easter and Frank N. Shelton, III filed to run for commissioner in the town of Stem.
In Butner, Michel Branch, Judy Cheek and Tom Lane filed for seats on the Butner Town Council; in Creedmoor, Emma L. Albright and Robert Way filed for commissioners’ seats.
Butner Mayor Terry Turner, Creedmoor Mayor Bobby Wheeler and Stem Mayor Casey Dover face no opposition.
4 Locals and 2 Out-of-Towners Arrested and Charged by VCSO
/by WIZS Staff– press release –
Sheriff Curtis R. Brame announces the following arrests by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Six Suspects arrested and charged:
Trevor Medlin
199 Woodland Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Age: 29
Charge: Possession of Heroin
Court Date: 07-26-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $5,000.00
Keiontre Maurice Ragland
322 Huff Lane
Henderson, NC 27537
Age: 20
Charges: Maintain a Dwelling Place for Keeping Control Substance
Felony Possession of Marijuana
Felony Possession of “Schedule 1 Controlled Substance
(Psilocybin Mushrooms)
Court Date: 07-26-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $50,000.00
Ta’le Jefferson
233 Gillburg Rd
Henderson, NC 27537
Age: 20
Charges: Carrying a Conceal Weapon
Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia
Possession of Marijuana up to ½ Ounce
Court Date: 09-16-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $1,000.00
Adam Blake Howard
519 Gillburg Rd Lot #2
Henderson, NC 27537
Age: 27
Charges: Possession of Heroin
Court Date: 07-12-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $10,000.00
Michael Ray Creech
3138 South Center Church Rd
Thurmond, NC 28683
Age: 52
Charges: Possession of Heroin
Court Date: 07-26-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $15,000.00
Tyquan D. Elam
8678 NC-HWY 39 North
Henderson, NC 27537
Age: 25
Charges: Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (Percocet)
Court Date: 07-26-2021 (Vance County District Court)
Bond: $5,000.00
Oxford Announces Interim Police Chief
/by Laura GabelThe City of Oxford has announced that former Oxford Police Department Captain Pat Ford will return to the Police Department to serve as interim police chief. Ford will begin the job on Aug. 2 and will lead the department as it conducts a search for a permanent chief.
Chief Al Coley announced in June that he will retire, effective Aug. 1.
“The City of Oxford is both pleased and thankful to have someone with nearly 25 years of service and experience with the Oxford Police Department to serve in this capacity,” according to a press release issued from the city’s executive offices.
WIZS Local News Audio 7-16-21 Noon
/by Bill HarrisThank you for listening to WIZS Radio, Your Community Voice!
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover 07-15-21 – Modeling Good Behavior
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.