Reminder About Temporary Detour To Accommodate Fireworks Traffic At Satterwhite Point July 5

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Traffic along Satterwhite Point Road will be detoured for just more than an hour on Saturday night after the completion of the fireworks display at Satterwhite Point.

Norman Dickerson with Vance County Tourism reminds anyone driving out that way between 9:15 p.m. and about 10:30 p.m. that traffic will be diverted from Satterwhite Point Road onto Anderson Creek Road.

The detour will help reduce congestion and allow for timely clearing of vehicular traffic occurring immediately after the conclusion of the annual Independence Day Celebration and fireworks display at Satterwhite Point Park, Dickerson said.

During the detour period, traffic traveling north/northwest on Satterwhite Point Rd (SR 1319) will be halted at the intersection of Anderson Creek Rd. (SR 1374). Traffic leaving the park headed south back toward Henderson will be detoured east onto Anderson Creek Road (SR 1374) and then south onto Flemingtown Road (SR 1371) to its intersection with I-85.

The closure/detour is coordinated and executed by the N.C. Highway Patrol and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

State Highway Patrol

‘Firecracker Booze It & Lose It’ In Full Force Through Holiday Weekend

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The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s ‘Operation Firecracker Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is in full force through Sunday, July 6 to help keep the roadways safe as folks travel during the long Independence Day holiday weekend.

The Fourth of July holiday ranks as one of the deadliest periods on the nation’s roads, according to information from the program. The annual campaign uses public outreach and law enforcement to discourage impaired driving by performing more checkpoints and patrols on the days leading up to and following the holiday.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holiday and celebrate but getting behind the wheel after drinking is never worth the risk,” said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell. “Last year, 11,782 crashes were reported statewide involving drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. This is unacceptable. Law enforcement officers from every county in the state will be working this campaign to catch impaired drivers.”

A total of 176 alcohol-related crashes and five fatalities occurred on North Carolina roads during the Fourth of July weekend in 2024, according to crash data from the N.C. Department of Transportation. The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign serves as a reminder that there are severe consequences for reckless behavior.

“Celebrating the Fourth of July responsibly could not be simpler,” said Michael Panzarella, the chief of police for Emerald Isle, which helped kick off this year’s campaign. “What’s not simple are the impacts of someone choosing to drink and then drive. Decide in advance how to get home safely. Too often we see impaired drivers injure themselves and others when they make the choice to drive under the influence.”

There are plenty of ways to arrive safely to a destination, including designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare service. It is always good to plan ahead and work toward making a safer environment and a more enjoyable holiday for everyone.

Please visit NCDOT’s website to learn more about the campaign and consequences of impaired driving.

Warren County Extends Application Period To Submit Golden LEAF Grants For Review

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The pre-application deadline for Warren County organizations to submit proposals to the Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative has been reopened and extended through July 21, 2025.

The Golden LEAF Community-Based Grants Initiative offers significant funding to support projects that strengthen rural communities through the organization’s stated priorities of job creation and economic investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.

“We want to give our community the time and space they need to put together strong proposals,” said County Manager, Crystal Smith. “This work is vital, and we are committed to helping our local providers access resources that can bring transformational projects to life.”

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) or governmental entities such as county and municipal governments, as well as institutes of higher learning. The new deadline to submit an application to the County Manager’s office at 602 W Ridgeway St in Warrenton is 5 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025. Applications will be reviewed in early August, with top proposals forwarded to Golden LEAF for final consideration.

To view the project worksheet template and additional information, visit https://goldenleaf.org/funding-opportunities/community-based-grants/resources/  Printed copies of the project worksheet template is available at the County Manager’s office.

Warren County strongly encourages all eligible organizations to take advantage of this extended deadline.

For assistance or more information, contact Interim Community & Development Director Rose Ponton by emailing roseponton@warrencountync.gov or by calling 252.257.3037 ext. 1310 or cell 252.213.1452 .

Vance County Logo

Department Of Social Services Board Votes DSS Director Out

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UPDATE July 2, 7:25 PM

The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.

Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.

“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.

“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.

But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”

The newly adopted county budget for 2025-26 includes $10,225,717 for administrative costs at DSS, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry. Perry told WIZS News Wednesday that Cassandra Hart is the interim director.

Perry referred other questions to the DSS Board Chair. WIZS reached out to Frieson Wednesday for comment. “Due to pending legal action I cannot comment at this time,” Frieson stated.

In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.

Then last week, a cybersecurity breach occurred at Vance County DSS that is currently under investigation.

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UPDATE July 1, 4:56 PM

The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.

Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.

“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.

“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.

But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”

In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.

A cybersecurity breach occurred last week at Vance County DSS that is under investigation by state and federal authorities.

SportsTalk: The New 2025-26 Athletic Year is Here

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SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th

Scout Hughes and George Hoyle talk about how now that it is July, the new high school conferences officially take effect. The guys give their input on how the athletic season will play out.

Below is a reminder of the finalized conferences for teams in Vance County and the surrounding counties in the NCHSAA:

6A/7A Conference C

  • Vance County (6A)
  • Franklinton (6A)
  • Wake Forest (7A)
  • Heritage – Wake Forest (7A)
  • Knightdale (7A)
  • East Wake (7A)

1A/2A Conference E

  • Vance Charter (1A)
  • Oxford Prep (1A)
  • Falls Lake Academy (1A)
  • Discovery Charter (1A)
  • Excelsior Classical (1A)
  • Henderson Collegiate (2A)
  • Eno River Academy (2A)

4A/5A Conference A

  • Carrboro (4A)
  • J.F. Webb (5A)
  • South Granville (5A)
  • Orange (5A)
  • Cedar Ridge (5A)
  • Seaforth (5A)
  • Durham School of the Arts (5A)

2A/3A/4A Conference A

  • American Leadership Academy, Johnston – Clayton (2A)
  • Louisburg (3A)
  • Wake Prep (3A)
  • Bunn (4A)
  • Nash Central (4A)
  • Roanoke Rapids (4A)

1A/2A Conference C

  • KIPP Pride (1A)
  • Southeast Halifax (1A)
  • Weldon (1A)
  • Warren County (2A)
  • Northwest Halifax (2A)
  • Northampton County (2A)

Click Play!

Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is now open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Today they have tomatoes, snapbeans, beets, cabbages, yellow squash, zucchini squash, red irish potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and peaches.
  • The 2025 Landowners and Heirs Property Workshop will be on July 24th, 2025 from 8am to 4:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Check for flooded rows after storms have passed open ends of rows to let excess water out.
  • Check soil for moisture before watering plants.
  • Cooperative Extension has excellent publications on canning and freezing your garden harvest.
  • Do not prune back azaleas now or you will lose next year’s blooms.
  • If you have harvested your irish potatoes, plant some other vegetable in that location.
  • Do garden chores early morning or late evening.
  • Let your children and grandchildren help in the garden and teach them now, they are our future gardeners.
  • Service your lawn mower according to the owners manual.
  • Check the harvest interval before spraying any fruits or vegetables that you are planning to harvest soon.
  • Keep your garden journal up to date.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

Click Play!

Warren County Seeks Public Input As Part Of UDO Update

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Warren County is currently working toward a major update to its development regulations by updating its Zoning, Subdivision, and related ordinances and consolidating them into a single Unified Development Ordinance. This effort also aims to implement key recommendations from the 2022 Warren County Comprehensive Development Plan, helping to shape future growth and development in a way that reflects the community’s vision.

Community input is a vital part of this process. Residents, business owners, and other stakeholders are invited to attend a public meeting on Monday, July 8, 2025, at the Warren County Armory, located at 501 U.S. Highway 158 Business East, Warrenton. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A presentation outlining the purpose and goals of the UDO update will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by an open-house format that will allow attendees to review draft materials, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to the project team.

This is an important opportunity for the public to help shape Warren County’s future by ensuring the updated ordinance reflects the needs and priorities of the community. “A Unified Development Ordinance will make it easier for residents, developers, and business owners to understand the rules, navigate the process, and invest in our communities with confidence,” said Mark Bloomer, Warren County Planning and Zoning Director.

For more information about the Unified Development Ordinance project and to stay up to date, visit
www.warrencountync.com/907/Unified-Development-Ordinance-Inj or reach out to the Warren County Planning & Zoning Department directly by calling 252.257.1305.