Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Youth and Community See Joy, Diversity with Phase 1 of 3 and Re-Dedication

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Kendrick Vann looked out over the crowd gathered for the Chestnut Street park rededication Thursday afternoon, with its bright blue basketball courts and nearby playground and picnic areas and commented on another beautiful aspect: the folks who’d come together to be a part of the activities.

“The most beautiful thing about this project,” Vann said, “You look around – we’ve got a diverse group out here. And these kids are a diverse group – that’s beautiful for our area,” he said.

Vernon Brown spent many an hour honing his basketball skills on the Chestnut Street courts back in the early 1970’s. The longtime member of the Recreation Advisory Committee, Brown recounted the history of the courts – located on the site of a warehouse that burned during a tumultuous period of boycotts and unrest in the city.

Those blacktop courts proved to be so popular, Brown said kids waited in line for at least an hour to have their turn to play.

“Soon, and very soon,” Brown said, “there will be hundreds of people out here and these basketball courts will be full.”

Thursday’s rededication marked the completion of Phase 1 of the project, which took off in earnest in January 2024 when Joshua Jones, Charles “C.J” Turrentine, Jr. and others talked about making some modest improvements.

Those modest improvements turned into a $100,000 revitalization project, fueled by generous donors and grants. “We’ve got two more phases to go,” Turrentine said. “This is not the end – we’re just getting started.”

Recreation Advisory Council Chair Donna Stearns, a retired employee of the recreation and parks department, recalled how busy the park was in the mid-1980’s.

“I find joy that we found this to do together,” Stearns said in remarks at the event. “I’ve never seen it look so good. This is a community-oriented project. And look what we’ve done!”

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott said the rededication also is a celebration of what can be achieved through partnerships with the community, government agencies and the faith-based community.

Elliott thanked Turrentine for the vision and everyone who participated in the project.

“This is not just a rededication,” she said. “This is hope… for our students and our families to come together.”

Click Here to Listen Including Ceremony Audio

(This news post originally appeared on WIZS.com on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025)

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Small Fruit Orchards

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Small fruit orchards can be grown well with selection and planning.

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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Henderson City Council Gives Go-Ahead To Pursue CDBG Funding For Kings Daughters Park Revitalization

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In a special called meeting, the Henderson City Council approved Friday morning to move ahead with a grant application to make significant renovations to Kings Daughters Park, including making it handicap accessible for multi-generational users.

As interim City Manager Paylor Spruill explained, this Community Development Block Grant funding is a variation that does not require housing construction; rather, it’s for neighborhood revitalization.

The meeting was called to allow for a required second public hearing on the matter. Four individuals spoke during the public hearing.

The grant also requires no match, and the initial $150,000 would be used to complete Phase 1, said Kendrick Vann, director of the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department and assistant to the city manager.

In addition to improving the park’s accessibility, Phase 1 would also enhance the amphitheater, allowing for future concerts in the park, Vann said.

The total price tag when Phase 2 is completed, would be about $1.25 million and would include shelters and a walking trail for health and wellness.

Talks are under way to create an environmental design for the park, located at 600 W. Montgomery Street. Vann said this project fits with the focus on revitalization of the Elmwood and West End areas of the city.

Vann said the Kerr-Tar COG has been instrumental in getting paperwork for the grant completed and submitted, and with Council support, it can be completed before the looming deadline.

Vann said the project has received letters of support from a variety of community entities, including Vance County, Smart Start, FVW Opportunity, Inc. and Gateway CDC.

Spruill said to expect to hear something in early 2026.

Henderson City Council Special Called Meeting 10 A.M. Friday, Oct. 24 For CDBG Public Hearing, Closed Session

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–      Public Notice from Henderson City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell

The Henderson City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Friday, October 24, 2025, to hold a Public Hearing to solicit input on local community development needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in the community and to hold a closed session pursuant to NC General Statute regarding a Personnel Matter.  The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall in City Council Chambers, 134 Rose Avenue.  The public is welcome.

The City of Henderson anticipates submitting a CDBG application in 2025. Information on the amount of funding available, the requirements on benefit to low-and-moderate income persons, eligible activities, and plans to minimize displacement and provide displacement assistance as necessary will be available. Citizens will also be given the opportunity to provide oral and written comments on Henderson’s use of CDBG funds. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

The meeting will be streamed at youtube.com/@CityofHenderson-NC

Keep in mind that is just for viewing, not for commenting.

 

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: The Fatherhood Toolkit

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

This segment has a few brief tips on how to be better prepared for disasters. It also reminds license holders of an upcoming pesticide class and announces an upcoming Master Gardener training course.

Links — go.ncsu.edu/commercialpesticide — https://ncdisaster.ces.ncsu.edu/preparedness/

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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TownTalk: Vance County Jail Could Find New Home On Brodie Road

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners is entertaining the idea of putting a new detention facility on a 10-acre tract of land at the corner of Brodie and Old County Home roads, right beside the county’s animal shelter.

During their Monday work session, commissioners discussed the idea and agreed by consensus to approve County Manager C. Renee Perry submitting a letter of support on the board’s behalf to endorse putting a new jail on the land, which is currently owned by the state of North Carolina.

Commissioner Tommy Hester has been in contact with state legislators to get things moving; Hester did not attend the work session but told WIZS News that he was eager to get the project underway before his current term on the board is up; his term expires in December 2026 and he said he does not intend to run again.

This particular tract of land, which already has water and sewer, was given to the county by Nannie Crowder, a familiar name to many in Vance County. Crowder owned parcels all around the county, and the former H. Leslie Perry librarian left this property to the county to build a school on.

Since that didn’t happen, the property reverted to the state. County leaders believe that if they can get the property at no or little cost from the state, it would be a terrific cost-saving move.

Hester has letters of endorsement from Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson, Sheriff Curtis Brame and from Perry on behalf of commissioners to sweeten the pot for those in the legislature to act in the county’s favor.

The next regular commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.

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TownTalk: Haunted Car Wash for Local Charities at AutoBright Express

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AutoBright Express of Henderson is having a Haunted Car Wash in which proceeds will be given to local charities. The fundraising events will take place on October 24th-25th from 5-9 p.m. both days.

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(This is not a paid ad on WIZS.com but it stems from a paid ad on the radio station.)

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 open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
  • There will be a Home Composting Workshop on October 27th at 6:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Collect your soil samples now! Avoid the rush!
  • Before tilling in your garden take a picture of what grew where, this will help you rotate your vegetables next year.
  • Make plans to purchase landscape & fruit trees. Do your research.
  • Keep leaves off newly established grass.
  • If cole crops are not dark green they may need top dressing.
  • Winterise any equipment that you will not use till next spring.
  • Check vegetables that have been in storage. Ex: Irish potatoes.
  • Avoid pruning right now.
  • Check cole crops for disease and insects.
  • Remember to use the proper personal protective equipment when doing fall chores
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

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

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

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