Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Nowell Brooks Principal of Advance Academy for the 2023-2024 School Year

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Vance County Schools has named Nowell Brooks as the principal of Advance Academy for the 2023-2024 school year. Brooks began his educational career as a social studies teacher in Granville County Schools in 2006 and joined Vance County Schools as an assistant principal in 2014.

Most recently, Brooks served in Franklin County Schools as an assistant principal and the director of Alternative Programs. While there, he also served as an interim principal and Summer Learning principal. As he begins his 17th year in public education, Brooks said “I have high aspirations to lead while providing strategic paths for the development of students’ academic, social and emotional needs.”

Brooks received his undergraduate degree from N.C. Central University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. Brooks lives in Henderson with wife Stephanie and will begin his new position effective July 1.

TownTalk: County Debates Future Of Vance Co. Fire Dept.

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Chiefs from several of Vance County’s fire departments have voiced opinions and concerns regarding a proposal to restructure the county’s only full-time paid fire department and make it a combination of paid and volunteer staff.

That proposal, discussed in some detail at a meeting Wednesday of the county’s Public Safety Committee, will be presented to the full board of commissioners at a special called meeting on Wednesday, June 14.

If commissioners accept the proposal with its associated budget amendments to begin the restructure process, and then adopt the budget changes, the restructure plan would begin.

If the board does not accept the proposal and the budget draft that is before the commissioners now is adopted, no changes would be taking place – at least in the foreseeable future – for the Golden Belt Fire District.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt laid out the basic points of the plan during the 30-minute meeting, which includes hiring a consultant to help the county implement the restructuring process.

In a follow-up telephone conversation earlier today, Epsom Chief Powell Wilkins called the proposal a “vague” that will adversely affect people’s livelihoods. “We need to build off what we currently have,” Wilkins said, adding that “transitioning this department is not going to work.”

Wilkins further stated that business owners within the existing Golden Belt district need to be informed of the proposed restructuring, noting that this district includes areas where the county is seeing economic and industrial development.

Adam “Slug” Pegram, chief at Cokesbury and batallion chief at Vance County/Golden Belt, told WIZS today that his department doesn’t support the restructuring and stated such in a letter of support for the county fire department that was sent to commissioners.

This support is echoed at Bearpond Fire Department, where Billy Jenkins has been chief for two years. Jenkins told WIZS today that he and his team “didn’t want to lose that guaranteed response” that comes from the county/Golden Belt fire department.

“Our stance on redistricting is we want the closest fire truck (to respond) – that person on the 911 call deserves that.”

Doyle Karpunky, who is chief of the Vance County Rescue Squad, president of the Vance County Fire Association, also is president of the Bearpond board said decisions need to be made that are in the best interest of the county, not just one department.

Karpunky told WIZS today that Vance County is the only county among the state’s 100 counties that has this situation. “We are the only county in the state that spends that kind of money on a single department.”

He added that he wants all the departments to be treated equally within the county. Volunteer departments have to raise money to fill the gap that the standard $100,000 annual county allotment doesn’t cover.

“We don’t want to see anyone lose their job,” said Chad Blake, chief at Hicksboro. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of citizens.”

Brummitt said the proposal would not gut the Golden Belt Fire Department; rather, the positions would be reduced by attrition over time. According to Brummitt, the state fire marshal’s office has recommended that more volunteers be added to the Golden Belt roster during recent ISO inspections.

“We are not getting rid of the department, we are adding volunteers to support the department,” he reinterated in a phone conversation today with WIZS.

As the county grows, the idea is to have two paid staff at each of the county’s 10 fire departments, with the ultimate goal of having paid personnel in all the departments – a feat that could take years to achieve.

And if the four-call system is implemented, it would mean that four departments would response to a structure fire, Brummitt noted. And since Golden Belt sits in the central part of the county, it is more than likely going to be called on more often to be one of the four units responding.

Several in opposition to the proposal have mentioned increased difficulty in finding volunteers to provide much-needed support to the paid staff in fire department across the county, which seems to be a national trend.

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SportsTalk: Wilkerson Wraps Up Junior Season At UNC

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Colby Wilkerson saw much success during his time at Kerr-Vance Academy and that success has continued at UNC where Wilkerson is the starting shortstop.  Wilkerson, who is a junior this year, and the Tar Heels just wrapped up the season making it into the NCAA Tournament.  Wilkerson felt UNC was successful this season but didn’t quite get to where he had hoped this season.  “Every season has goods and bads. We always want to get to Omaha,” Wilkerson said.  Omaha is the site of the college baseball world series, and while UNC didn’t make it this year, Wilkerson did say one of the highlights of the year was his sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the ninth inning in a late regular season game against rival NC State to win the contest.

There were other highlights for Wilkerson including the opportunity to play another year, finishing the season healthy and contributing to other players success.  Wilkerson said that every game is exciting for him and that he credits much of his personal success to having a good routine that he sticks to.

UNC will only lose three seniors for next season which could mean more wins on the diamond for the Tar Heels. “We hope to get a little better and be the last team standing,” Wilkerson concluded.

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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Managing Stress

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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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Community Partners of Hope

TownTalk: Men’s Homeless Shelter Seeks To Expand

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When City Road Methodist Church merged with First United Methodist Church, it didn’t take long for someone to figure out that the now-vacant facility would make a perfect permanent location for the emergency men’s homeless shelter.

Community Partners of Hope, Inc. has overseen the shelter during the winter months out of the basement of First Presbyterian Church for 14 years, but the hope has long been to expand the shelter to operate all year long and to provide additional services for those who need help.

It’s a dream that Delthine Watson has had for some time, and that dream is coming closer and closer to becoming a reality.

Watson is Community Partners of Hope’s community network specialist and she said on Wednesday’s TownTalk that there will be an open house next weekend at the former church site to share the dream and vision to transform the building from a church sanctuary to a sanctuary of a different sort.

Board members, staff and others will be on hand Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and again on Sunday, June 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions about the transformation.

They’ve already chosen a name – City Road Center for Hope – Watson said. Now all they need is the money to make the necessary upgrades.

“We need $350,000 now – or soon – because we have to redo the building to make it a shelter,” Watson said. People already have been kind to offer services at low cost or no cost, but there’s still the cost of materials to consider, she said.

She hopes that all the work will be completed over the summer so the shelter will be able to open October 1 in its new location.

“If you’re homeless, come April 1, you’re still homeless,” Watson said, referring to the date that the shelter has closed in years past. She said she wants the shelter to be open 365 days a year, “to give our men some place to go. But while they’re there, we also want to provide them more services,” she said.

Whether it’s job skills or access to mental health services, the City Road Center for Hope is a spot where men experiencing homelessness can come for a range of services, from a meal and a warm bed and a clean change of clothes.

“That is our goal,” she said.

This is the only men’s shelter in the four-county area, Watson said, and they’ve accommodated men from as far away as Durham, Raleigh and southside Virginia.

“The need is very great,” she said. The City of Henderson is supporting the new shelter with $50,000, which is a great start. Watson hopes other community partners will step up and contribute as well.

Watson said the upcoming open house dates are for anyone with a desire to learn more about homelessness in Henderson and how the proposed shelter will serve that population.

“We can talk about it,” she said, “but come see it with your own eyes – come and visit and see.”

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Check squash for squash bugs
  • Avoid hand watering.
  • If you have young children or grand kids let them help you in the garden teach them how plants grow.
  • Avoid excess mulch around trees and shrubs.
  • Continue your succession vegetable planting
  • Avoid herbicide applications on tall fescue lawns.
  • Watering your garden thoroughly once a week is much better than watering just a little each day.
  • Fertilize warm season lawns
  • Check garden each day for harvestable vegetables ex Squash
  • Shape up shrubbery

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Gordon Wilder Awarded Order Of The Long Leaf Pine

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Gordon Wilder has long been a public servant in his community – from his 30+ years with Vance County Schools to his 12 years as a county commissioner, Wilder has had the best interests of the community at heart for decades.

And Monday night he was at the board of commissioners meeting – not as a commissioner but as a private citizen. With wife and family looking on, Wilder became the newest recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon presented the award, the highest honor an individual can receive from the State of North Carolina.

Until Clerk Kelly Grissom called him to inform him of the honor, Wilder said he had no idea that a nomination had been submitted.

“I’m very fortunate,” he said, adding that it was something he had “coveted for a long time – but you’re not supposed to covet.”

He said the evening was very special indeed, especially since his wife, children and grandchildren were able to be present.

Reflecting on the events of the evening when he was back at home last night, Wilder said he realized something: “The price of coffee is the same and I’ve got to get up and go to work when the sun comes up.” Awards are wonderful, but “you’ve got to keep them in perspective.”

2 Vance Charter Lacrosse Players Make All-State Team

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-information courtesy of Vance Charter School Lacrosse Coach Dan Sandlin

Vance Charter School is excited to share that two student athletes have propelled to All State in lacrosse. Junior, attackman, Gavyn Sandlin, and Senior defenseman, Daniel Mangum, have both taken a spot on the All State lacrosse team for NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A. Both serving as Captains during this season, Sandlin and Mangum were also named to the All Region team and All Conference players. Mangum was the Vance Charter School Defensive Player of the Year, while Sandlin was the Offensive Player of the Year.

Sandlin reached the 200 career point mark, finishing out with 218 points over his last three seasons. This season, Sandlin finished with 52 goals and 29 assists, putting him among the top point getters in the 1A/2/3A East Division. Last year, Sandlin was also named to the All Conference, All Region and All State teams, finishing out being named a US Lacrosse All American. He finished this season strong.

Mangum had 65 ground balls and 35 takeaways after a strong season. His defensive skills allowed him to excel on the field as a constant leader. Mangum brought an amazing level of energy to the field each day at practice and games.  This energy was contagious, and the rest of the team would feed off of his energy.

The Vance Charter Knights had a strong season finishing at the top of the conference, making it to the second round of state playoffs for the second consecutive year, and having All Region and All State representation the last two years.