North Carolina’s executive director of the State Board of Elections is set to be the 2026 president of the national association of state elections board directors.
Karen Brinson Bell recently was elected incoming president of the National Association of State Election Directors and was sworn in during the NASED conference in Washington, D.C. Bell was the organization’s vice president in 2024.
“Through this role on the NASED board, I interact routinely with election officials from across the United States as we learn from each other and improve elections,” Brinson Bell said. “I am proud of the work NASED does to help all election administrators succeed in making voting accessible, secure, and fair across the country.”
Kansas State Elections Director Bryan Caskey is serving as NASED president for 2025.
Other NASED officers for 2025-26 are: Mark Goins of Tennessee, vice president; Jonathan Brater of Michigan, treasurer; Monica Evans, District of Columbia, secretary; Mandy Vigil of New Mexico, immediate past president.
Brinson Bell has served as executive director of the State Board of Elections since June 2019. She has worked in elections administration since 2006 in county, state, and national roles. As North Carolina’s chief elections official, Brinson Bell leads about 65 employees at the state agency. The State Board administers elections and oversees campaign finance compliance. It also provides guidance on election laws and procedures to the 100 county boards of elections in North Carolina.
NASED is a nonpartisan professional organization made up of state election directors. It promotes accessible, accurate, and transparent elections in the 50 states and U.S. territories. NASED members meet twice a year to discuss the latest developments in election administration and learn from other states and experts about best practices in elections.
Chamber Member Spotlight: Sams Furniture And Mattress Center
/by WIZS Staff— Part of a paid ad by Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
Representatives of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce stopped in this week at Sams Furniture and Mattress Center for a Member Spotlight presentation. Britt Sams and staff offered a warm welcome to Chamber staff and board members.
Sams Furniture and Mattress Center is a family-owned and operated business owned by Britt Sams and it celebrates 24 years in business this year. Established right here in downtown Henderson in 2001, Sams Furniture and Mattress Center was voted the #1 furniture store and the #1 mattress store in 2024 – an honor it has received many years out of the last 20.
They deliver all throughout Henderson, Vance County and the surrounding counties, up into Virginia and all the way to the beach. They offer three floors packed with living room, bedroom, dining room furniture, lift chairs, home entertainment, home accents and mattresses and have six employees.
Located at 515 S. Garnett St., Britt has a passion to attract people downtown to shop local and is glad to be a part of downtown Henderson. They offer a personal touch in servicing all products that they sell. Sandra Wilkerson, President of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, and Kevin Wade, HV Chamber Board member, thanked them for their continued support of the Chamber and for the service that they provide to Henderson and surrounding areas.
Call Sams Furniture and Mattress Center at 252.762.0500.
Consider paying them a visit today and check out their beautiful showrooms. We are fortunate to have Sams Furniture in downtown Henderson and we wish them many more years of continued success!
Maria Parham Feb. 27 Lunch And Learn Focuses On Heart Health
/by WIZS StaffMaria Parham Health Hosts is kicking off the 2025 Lunch and Learn series this month with a focus on heart health.
February is Heart Health month and on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 12 noon, two interventional cardiologists are scheduled to present information with a focus on prevention, early detection and cardiac care.
Dr. Araba Ofosu-Somuah, who will discuss heart and vascular disease with a specific focus on the unique needs of women’s cardiac care. Dr. Benjamin Dao, who will share essential insights on heart and vascular disease, as well as emphasizing prevention and early detection.
This free event is open to all community residents, and a complimentary lunch will be provided. Seating is limited, so online registration is required. Secure your spot by visiting MariaParham.com/event/62 today.
For more information or to register, please contact Donna Young, Marketing & Communication coordinator, at 252.436.1408.
North Carolina’s Karen Brinson Bell Elected To Lead Nation’s Elections Directors In 2026
/by WIZS StaffNorth Carolina’s executive director of the State Board of Elections is set to be the 2026 president of the national association of state elections board directors.
Karen Brinson Bell recently was elected incoming president of the National Association of State Election Directors and was sworn in during the NASED conference in Washington, D.C. Bell was the organization’s vice president in 2024.
“Through this role on the NASED board, I interact routinely with election officials from across the United States as we learn from each other and improve elections,” Brinson Bell said. “I am proud of the work NASED does to help all election administrators succeed in making voting accessible, secure, and fair across the country.”
Kansas State Elections Director Bryan Caskey is serving as NASED president for 2025.
Other NASED officers for 2025-26 are: Mark Goins of Tennessee, vice president; Jonathan Brater of Michigan, treasurer; Monica Evans, District of Columbia, secretary; Mandy Vigil of New Mexico, immediate past president.
Brinson Bell has served as executive director of the State Board of Elections since June 2019. She has worked in elections administration since 2006 in county, state, and national roles. As North Carolina’s chief elections official, Brinson Bell leads about 65 employees at the state agency. The State Board administers elections and oversees campaign finance compliance. It also provides guidance on election laws and procedures to the 100 county boards of elections in North Carolina.
NASED is a nonpartisan professional organization made up of state election directors. It promotes accessible, accurate, and transparent elections in the 50 states and U.S. territories. NASED members meet twice a year to discuss the latest developments in election administration and learn from other states and experts about best practices in elections.
Henderson Driver License Office Closed Until At Least 2 P.M. Friday
/by John C. RoseUPDATE: The Henderson Driver License office has reopened as of 1:50 p.m. Friday
Original Update:
WIZS News learned at 7:30 a.m. Friday that the Henderson Driver License Office is expected to be closed until at least 2 p.m. Friday.
A spokesperson with DMV and NCDOT told WIZS, “The Driver License office in Henderson will be closed this morning to allow for necessary facilities maintenance and office upgrades. Customers with appointments this morning are being serviced at the Oxford Driver License office or have been rescheduled.”
The Henderson office is scheduled to reopen around 2:00 p.m.
More details may be available later in the day.
In mid-January there was a closure for scheduled office upgrades such as the installation of new workstations for examiners, new wiring for computers, computer upgrades, and new furniture in the customer waiting area.
Chamber Spotlight: Sunrock Industries, Inc.
/by WIZS Staff– This post sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
Representatives of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce visited Chamber Member Sunrock Industries, Inc. last week to recognize the company with a well-deserved Member Spotlight honor.
The company, with headquarters in Raleigh, recently celebrated 75 years in business and have been located in North Carolina for 40 years. This family-owned business is a leading supplier of construction materials.
As a vertically integrated company, they produce aggregates, hot mix asphalt, ready mixed concrete materials and provide a variety of contracting services.
For more information about the services and products they provide, call Sunrock at 919.747.6400.
During the recent visit by Chamber representatives, owner Bryan Pfohl offered a history on the company over the years and shared details about the many processes and applications for their products.
Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson, along with Board Chair Scott Burwell, board member Beth Townsend and Vanessa Jones, director of Programs, joined Pfohl and Sunrock President Mike Nolan, COO Zach Satterwhite and Hunter King, communications specialist for the special recognition.
SportsTalk: Wilkerson And UNC Gear Up For Baseball
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Former Kerr-Vance Player and UNC Baseball Coach Daniel Wilkerson joins SportsTalk with Scout Hughes and George Hoyle to discuss the upcoming season for the Tar Heels.
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TownTalk: Mobility Hub Funding
/by Bill HarrisThe Henderson City Council made its selection Monday for where the Mobility Hub would be located, which in turn sets in motion the next steps for the overall plan to bring passenger rail service back to Henderson.
The Council chose the iconic downtown First National Bank building over the Garnett Street Station, even though – ironically – that building once served as a train depot.
City and NCDOT officials presented both sites to the Council during its Feb. 10 meeting, complete with artist renderings and a list of pros and cons for each potential site.
Ultimately, the Council voted for the bank building, which has been vacant for decades.
It is unclear just how much it will cost to renovate the building in preparation for use as a mobility hub, which is one component included in the $21 million train station project.
If the mobility hub needed to be completed right now, the city would need to foot the bill. According to information from City Public Information Officer Salonia Saxton, however, that mobility hub won’t be needed for several more years – which gives local and NCDOT staff a bit of time to identify funding sources to help defray the cost.
Building construction and renovation, parcel acquisition, site development and a pedestrian railroad overpass are just a few of the facets of the project the city expects to fund, Saxton said.
She said the mobility hub is a supporting facility to the rail station and its platforms and is only a part of the $21 million estimate.
Next up for the site is completion of an environmental study by NCDOT.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 02-13-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Deon Linshawn Bullock is Wanted in Connection to Donnie Ayscue’s Homicide
/by WIZS StaffUPDATE 2-13-25
(WIZS write up to follow here soon)
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For Immediate Release – From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame – Date: January 24, 2025
On Saturday, January 11, 2025, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) received a 911 call at approximately 1:54 a.m. about a gunshot victim at 1300 Walters Street in Henderson, North Carolina. Vance County EMS and VCSO Deputies responded and discovered Donnie Ayscue suffering from a single gunshot wound. Ayscue died as a result of his injuries at his residence.
After an intensive investigation, 19-year-old, Deon Linshawn Bullock was identified as a person of interest.
Deon Linshawn Bullock is wanted in connection to Ayscue’s homicide. Bullock was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with grey joggers on January 24, 2025. See photo below.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in this active and ongoing homicide investigation.
Contact: Anyone with information on Deon Linshawn Bullock’s whereabouts should contact Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers (252) 492-1925, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office (252) 738-2200, or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (1-800-334-3000 or sbiwebcontact@ncsbi.gov).
(Original post made to WIZS.com on Jan. 24, 2025)
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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Navigating the Teenage Years
/by WIZS StaffCooperative Extension
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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