100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, was the guest of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.
A resident of Montgomery Street in Henderson, Owens is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election.
Noting that her decision to run for mayor has been a topic of much self-reflection over the past year, Owens, a budget analyst with Durham Public Schools and an evangelist with Greater Refuge Church Henderson, said it was both prayer and her concern for the City of Henderson that led her to file.
Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election. (Photo courtesy Sharon Owens)
“I have a deep concern for the City of Henderson,” Owens said. “When I look at the area now and compare it with other cities of the same size, or even compare it to our past, I am concerned.”
Owens, who has lived in Henderson all of her life minus a year she spent in Richmond, VA, said she is saddened by what issues such as crime, drugs, gangs and lack of viable job opportunities have done to the area she calls home.
“It breaks my heart when I look at how the downtown buildings have gone down, the stores have moved; nothing is like it used to be,” lamented Owens. “I can’t help but wonder what is the mindset of the City Council for downtown development and the city as a whole.”
Citing economic development as one of Henderson’s major issues, Owens said she would like to focus on bringing more jobs to the area by offering companies additional incentives. “We need to give some kind of incentive for jobs to come to the City of Henderson. When people have income and good housing, it makes them feel good about themselves and makes them want to do better.”
Acknowledging that the mayor works very closely with the city manager, Owens said she’d like to see those two positions take a more grassroots approach to affecting change in the community.
“I think that relationship should be such that we could go out into neighborhoods and talk to people at their level about [issues such as] drugs, gangs and murder, talk to people who it directly affects,” said Owens. “If we are being honest, it does not affect everyone.”
After stating the entire City of Henderson should be treated as a whole, Owens conceded, “Some areas of the city require a little more attention than others, especially the areas of high poverty.”
Owens said that she feels progress is being made in addressing issues that often accompany areas of high poverty but believes more can be done. She also believes that she is just the person to do it.
“I’m not saying that the Mayor and City Council aren’t doing a great job; they are doing a magnificent job,” Owens said.”I just believe that I can take it a little bit further.”
For more information on Owens’ campaign, visit her website by clicking here.
(This is not a paid political advertisement. WIZS is in communication with incumbent Eddie Ellington to participate in a similar interview.)
To hear Owens’ Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
West End Community Watch to Hear From Sheriff Brame, Law Enforcement
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch
West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of West End Baptist Church in Henderson.
The speaker will be Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame. Police will be present to provide a report about recent police activity.
All are invited. Please plan to attend!
Oxford Commissioners to Hear Water/Sewer System Fee Presentation – Aug. 13
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford
The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, City Hall.
Agenda items include:
Water and Sewer System Development Fee Presentation – City Engineer, Amy Ratliff.
Consider adopting a Resolution to accept a loan and adopt a Capital Project Ordinance for the 2017 B Sewer Line Replacement Project.
Consider adopting a Resolution to partner with the US Census Bureau and the State to ensure every resident is counted for the 2020 Census.
Please click here for complete Oxford Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes.
Town Talk 08/09/19
/by Larry100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
News 08/09/19
/by Larry100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Town Talk 08/08/19: Owens, Mayoral Candidate, Discusses ‘Concern’ for Henderson
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, was the guest of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.
A resident of Montgomery Street in Henderson, Owens is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election.
Noting that her decision to run for mayor has been a topic of much self-reflection over the past year, Owens, a budget analyst with Durham Public Schools and an evangelist with Greater Refuge Church Henderson, said it was both prayer and her concern for the City of Henderson that led her to file.
Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election. (Photo courtesy Sharon Owens)
“I have a deep concern for the City of Henderson,” Owens said. “When I look at the area now and compare it with other cities of the same size, or even compare it to our past, I am concerned.”
Owens, who has lived in Henderson all of her life minus a year she spent in Richmond, VA, said she is saddened by what issues such as crime, drugs, gangs and lack of viable job opportunities have done to the area she calls home.
“It breaks my heart when I look at how the downtown buildings have gone down, the stores have moved; nothing is like it used to be,” lamented Owens. “I can’t help but wonder what is the mindset of the City Council for downtown development and the city as a whole.”
Citing economic development as one of Henderson’s major issues, Owens said she would like to focus on bringing more jobs to the area by offering companies additional incentives. “We need to give some kind of incentive for jobs to come to the City of Henderson. When people have income and good housing, it makes them feel good about themselves and makes them want to do better.”
Acknowledging that the mayor works very closely with the city manager, Owens said she’d like to see those two positions take a more grassroots approach to affecting change in the community.
“I think that relationship should be such that we could go out into neighborhoods and talk to people at their level about [issues such as] drugs, gangs and murder, talk to people who it directly affects,” said Owens. “If we are being honest, it does not affect everyone.”
After stating the entire City of Henderson should be treated as a whole, Owens conceded, “Some areas of the city require a little more attention than others, especially the areas of high poverty.”
Owens said that she feels progress is being made in addressing issues that often accompany areas of high poverty but believes more can be done. She also believes that she is just the person to do it.
“I’m not saying that the Mayor and City Council aren’t doing a great job; they are doing a magnificent job,” Owens said.”I just believe that I can take it a little bit further.”
For more information on Owens’ campaign, visit her website by clicking here.
(This is not a paid political advertisement. WIZS is in communication with incumbent Eddie Ellington to participate in a similar interview.)
To hear Owens’ Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Warren Co. Board of Education
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Warren County, North Carolina, Board of Education (Warren County) that resolves a federal lawsuit brought under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) on behalf of Dwayne Coffer, a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) in the Army Reserve.
In its complaint, the United States alleged that Warren County violated USERRA by eliminating Sergeant Major Coffer’s employment position while he was on active duty with the military and failed to re-employ him in a comparable position when he returned.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Warren County will reinstate Coffer to the position of Dean of Students at Warren County Middle School, and provide him with back pay and pension benefits. The reinstatement position is the one that Coffer held before his period of active duty with the Army.
“Command Sergeant Major Coffer was called upon to leave his civilian employment and serve our nation, and we are grateful for his service,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement agreement with Warren County Resolves the USERRA claims brought by the United States and serves as a reminder that our service members, like CSM Coffer, deserve fair and lawful reemployment following their returns from active military duty.”
“Members of our Reserves, like Command Sergeant Dewayne Coffer, are often called away from their civilian jobs in order to provide the security our nation depends on,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon of the Eastern District of North Carolina. “These citizen service members should never face losing their jobs or be forced to accept an inferior position when they answer that call. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects these brave men and women, and, as this lawsuit demonstrated, the Department of Justice is committed to enforcing it when it is violated.”
USERRA safeguards the rights of uniformed service members to return to their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations and protect service members from discrimination on the basis of their military obligations. This case stems from a referral by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) following an investigation by the DOL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
After resolution failed, VETS referred the complaint to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. This lawsuit was handled by Deborah Birnbaum and Brian McEntire in the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. James in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of service members’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at https://www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section and https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers, as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra.
Leadership Vance Graduates 14 Community Participants
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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
Fourteen participants have successfully completed the 2019 Leadership Vance program. Leadership Vance is a Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce program designed to create a group of informed and dedicated leaders who will contribute to the community.
The program is organized into twelve sessions which began February 5 with an orientation breakfast at Perry Library in the Farm Bureau Room and concluded on July 9 with a graduation ceremony and dinner at Hillside Farms in Henderson.
Participants are exposed to various aspects of Henderson and Vance County, specifically in regard to city and county government, health and community resources, economic development, agriculture and natural resources, history, media, criminal justice and law.
The Leadership Vance Graduates for 2019 include (left front): Lemondre’ Watson, Sharita Jones, Jason Varner, McKinley Perkinson, Evelyn Harris, Fantasia Johnson. (Left back): Brian Williams, Lee Andrew Faines, Jr., Elgin Lane, Pam Hester, Norman Dickerson, Jr., Sandra Wilkerson, Chamber Events Director and Andrew (Joel) Beckham. Not pictured: Cathy Renn and Ray Gronberg. (H-V Chamber photo)
Supervisors and guests were in attendance to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.
Jason Varner and Pastor Joel Beckham shared reflections regarding the program on behalf of the class. Varner said, “Henderson and Vance County is a great place to live.” He challenged his classmates to use their leadership experience to make Henderson and Vance County an even better place.
Joel Beckham stated, “I have been inspired.” Beckham encouraged the group to take what they have experienced and make a difference in the community.
McKinley Perkinson shared the class project which was a battery collection for smoke detectors to assist the Fire Department in their Smoke Detector initiative.
Chief Steve Cordell and Captain Lee Edmonds of the Henderson Fire Department were present to receive the donations and shared their gratitude to the group for taking on the initiative. The group collected over 350 9 volt batteries to support the battery replacement program for smoke detectors.
Garrison Says He’ll ‘Continue Seeking Relocation of DHHS’ to Granville County
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
As stated by NC House District 32 Representative Terry Garrison in his recent newsletter message:
Passing a biennium budget during a long session and odd year of the North Carolina General Assembly is the most important work that this legislative body will do while in session. During this 2019-2020 session of the General Assembly, both chambers of the NC House and NC Senate passed its version of a biennium budget in June.
The two budget versions had differences which then required them to be referred to a Conference Committee to develop a consensus budget. A consensus budget was completed and approved largely along political party lines. As Republicans hold majority memberships in both the House and Senate, they also largely comprised the Consensus Committee. As a result, the Consensus Bill, HB 966, 2019 Appropriations Act was also approved along political party lines, on June 27, 2019.
HB 966 (Appropriations Act) did not include Medicaid Expansion which was the number one budget priority for Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and the Democratic Party. Additionally, the conference budget did not allow citizens a choice on deciding whether to invest in a bond for much-needed school construction as desired by the Governor.
Further, the conference budget provides an average of 3.8% teacher pay increase as opposed to 9.1% sought by the Governor; gives all state employees a $1,000 raise as opposed to 2% or $800 raise, whichever is greater; and provides a 1% cost of living increase for state retirees as opposed to a 2% cost of living increase sought by the Governor.
A few differences between the conference committee and the Governor’s budget are shared here, but there a number of other differences between the two budgets which were objected to by Democrats in both the House and Senate as well as the Governor.
The Republicans included a number of perks within the conference bill which mainly benefited their constituents.
The relocation of the headquarters of the NC Department of Health and Human Services to Granville County was included in the conference budget by the Senate without any special conditions. However, the House changed the relocation to the Triangle North Granville Business and Industrial site in Oxford on condition of my commitment to override the Governor’s veto of the budget. While I fully support the relocation of DHHS to Granville County, and particularly to the Triangle North Granville site, I cannot in good conscience vote to override the Governor’s veto.
Governor Cooper vetoed HB 966 as expected. The state is currently operating under a continuing budget resolution, or more specifically, operating under the 2018 budget until a new biennium budget is passed. A vote on the override of the Governor’s veto is pending and has not occurred as of this time. If an override of the Governor’s veto of budget does not occur, then the budget will have to be renegotiated until a consensus budget can be achieved.
It is my plan to continue seeking relocation of DHHS to Granville County, and particularly to the Triangle North site. While the Governor is leaning toward a study bill for the relocation of DHHS, I am optimistic that Granville County will remain the target site for consideration of such project relocation.
Further, it is my goal to advocate for more jobs and related initiatives promoted by the state within Granville, Vance and Warren Counties within this upcoming biennium.
Kittrell Community Watch to Hear From Animal Control at Aug. Meeting
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-Information courtesy Edward Woodlief, Kittrell Community Watch
The Kittrell Community Watch will meet Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 6535 Raleigh Road, Kittrell, NC.
Guest speaker will be Frankie Nobles, Chief Animal Control Officer for Vance County.
Light Refreshments will be served.
All are welcome, even if you reside outside the Kittrell area.
Granville County Detention Center Administrator Retires
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
After 21 years of service, Mr. Jimmy Hayes has retired from the Granville County Sheriff’s Office as Detention Center Administrator.
Hayes was recognized by Granville County Commissioners for his dedication to the job at the Monday, August 5, 2019, meeting. A retirement celebration was held on June 26, Hayes’ last official day on the job, in honor of his outstanding service.
Prior to his work with Granville County, Hayes had a 34-year career with the N.C. Department of Corrections. He is pictured here with Commissioner and former Granville County Sheriff David Smith.
After 21 years of service, Mr. Jimmy Hayes has retired from the Granville County Sheriff’s Office as Detention Center Administrator. Pictured: Mr. Jimmy Hayes (right) and Granville County Commissioner David Smith. (Granville Co. Govt photo)