WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-26-23 Noon
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Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
TownTalk: Dingee Promises To Be Stingy As State Auditor
Charles Dingee is running for N.C. Auditor in next year’s general election, and the slogan he’s come up is helpful for voters to know how to pronounce his name and remember the office he’s seeking: Dingee will be stingy with taxpayer dollars.
Dingee was a guest on TownTalk Monday and talked about his platform and areas of improvement with the state auditor’s office.
The election is more than a year away – November 2024 – but Dingee said it’s not too early to campaign.
“We are crisscrossing the state and educating voters,” Dingee said, “letting them know why I’m the best person to do this job.”
The state auditor is a member of the Council of State, a 10-member body comprised of elected officials that is part of the executive branch of state government.
Dingee said the first things he’d do as auditor is to seek funding code reform and to make the anonymous tip line public.
Citizens who suspect fraud or other wrongful acts within state government can call the tip line.
With more than 120 employees, the auditor’s office should be the vehicle that ensures transparency, he said, “responsible for making sure your money – your taxpayer money – gets where it’s supposed to be.”
Dingee has experience with the banking industry and with running his own business. Small business owners “know the value of a penny (and) make sure every penny is accounted for.”
His “strong conservative business background,” coupled with his Republican affiliation, are what make him the better candidate for the job currently held by five-time incumbent Beth Wood.
“Frankly, the current state auditor hasn’t been doing (the) job.”
In addition, he said he wants to see all larger state agencies undergo an annual – or at least biannual – audit. For example, the state Board of Elections hasn’t had an audit in 13 years, and that’s too long.
“I would like to hope that our bureaucratic officials …are doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he explained. “But if nobody’s looking, is everthing ok?”
“Government should work for the people – government should be letting people know this is what we’re doing. I’m going to make sure it happens when I’m your state auditor.”
Visit https://charlesdingee.com/ to learn more.
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The Local Skinny! Fireworks At Cokesbury On Saturday
If you’re looking for some fireworks fun this weekend but don’t want to go all the way to Kerr Lake, you may want to head over to the Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department before dusk on Saturday, July 1.
Chief Adam Pegram said gates will open about 6 p.m. for the annual fireworks display. Folks can park across the street and then head over to where the action is – there will be music and food vendors will hamburgers and hotdogs, popcorn and sno-balls to enjoy.
“We’ll start shooting when the sun goes down,” Pegram said.
The Cokesbury event is the same evening as the county tourism fireworks display at Satterwhite Point, but Pegram said it’s not about competition – it’s about giving back to the community that supports the fire department.
“We’ve been working together for several years,” Pegram said. The goal is “having family fun at both locations and enjoying the holiday.”
Please keep in mind, however, that no matter where you enjoy the holiday, to be safe and considerate, Pegram reminds.
“Just be patient when we’re trying to exit and empty the parking lot,” he said.
“Come and enjoy yourself and have a good time,” Pegram said, but please remember to pick up your trash before you leave.
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Composting
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North Henderson Baptist Hosts VBS July 16-19
Youngsters of all ages are invited to attend North Henderson Baptist Church’s Vacation Bible School.
The VBS will begin July 16 and continue through July 19, according to information from Pastor Eddie Nutt. Classes are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and there will be classes for each age group.
A meal is provided each evening as well.
North Henderson Baptist Church is located at 1211 N. Garnett St. in Henderson.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-23-23 Noon
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The Local Skinny! Teacher Bags Being Prepared by Chamber
The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce wants to help new teachers in the county feel welcomed as they begin – or continue – their careers providing instruction to students in the area.
Now through July 11, the Chamber is collecting donations from area businesses for its annual New Teacher Bags program, and Chamber Events Coordinator Vanessa Jones said she’s already had a good response.
“There’s been a flood of emails from businesses that want to help us out,” Jones said. “We’re excited for the opportunity…to make sure our teachers are having a good welcome” to the county and to their respective schools.
Donations in increments of 160 are what’s needed to fill up those bags, as that is the expected number of new educators across all schools – that includes Vance County Schools, Vance Charter School, Crossroads Christian, Kerr-Vance Academy and Henderson Collegiate.
The Chamber has set the mid-July deadline so all the bags can be ready for distribution for any new teacher orientations that may be held prior to the start of the teacher workdays at the beginning of the school year.
Items with business logos on them help identify local retailers and others that support the program – and the new teacher bags also are a great way for individuals new to the area to learn about where they can find certain goods and services.
Jones said any business or organization that cannot deliver the items to the Chamber office should contact her to arrange pickup. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 or email her at vanessa@hendersonvance.org.
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TownTalk: Berry Village Proposed For Dabney Rd.
A mixed-used development project that exists now only on paper has taken a key step forward after getting the green light from the Vance County Planning Board with a special use permit.
As it appears in its conceptual form, Berry Village would ultimately have a mixture of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, as well as up to 250,000 square feet of commercial/retail development, according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon.
With approval from the planning board, the project proposal next heads to the City Council.
“As this project pertains to development and growth, it would be a boost to the city’s tax base,” Blackmon stated to WIZS News, “but more importantly it shows that Henderson is a viable destination for future housing and retail growth and we expect to see more developers choosing Henderson and Vance County for additional development opportunities.”
The 123 acres is located along Dabney Road, and at least two full access entrances would be along Dabney Road, where it meets Ruin Creek Road and then at Allen Road. A limited access point is planned for Dabney Road just across from Blessed Hope Baptist Church.
This is the general area where city leaders have proposed constructing a new fire department. The tract would have city services, including water and sewer.
The commercial and retail space, as well as the apartment units, will be located along Dabney Road, with townhomes in several different areas of the site map and the single-family homes will take up a total of just more than 31 acres.
In a posting on social media, City Council member Garry Daeke called Berry Village “a planned community development unlike any we have to date.”
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ICYMI: Vance County Fire Services
In the ongoing conversations among county leaders about the future of the Vance County Fire Department, many things remain unresolved. But when county commissioners approved the 2023-24 budget on June 14, a couple of issues were addressed, including raising the hourly pay for part-time firefighter to $15 from $14 and agreeing to conduct a fire study.
Following the budget adoption meeting, Interim County Manager Scott Elliott told WIZS News, “At the July 10 meeting, staff will bring forth the proposed scope of the work to be conducted by the fire study and seek board approval and for execution of a contract.”
Dozens of citizens – many of them affiliated with one of the county’s fire departments – attended a meeting of the county’s Public Safety Committee on June 7. Over the last 45 days in particular, citizens and those in the fire service have continued to express their concerns about the proposal from the committee to restructure the Vance County Fire Department.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt, a member of the committee, maintained that the fire department will not be dismantled; rather, paid staff would be reduced by attrition and more volunteers would be added to that department’s roster. The ultimate goal is to provide 24/7 fire coverage across the county, Brummitt said, but it can’t all happen at once.
With the budget in place, a hiring freeze in place, and the study coming, the board, with a great deal of county staff help, has preserved its option to act on the study, including amending the budget.
After the June 14 meeting, Finance Director Katherine Bigelow said, “What is being approved is freezing the four vacant Vance County Fire Department positions and their capital expenses consisting of turnout gear and fire boots, for example,” as she went over some items with WIZS.
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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Welcome To Summer
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