Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

The Local Skinny! Vance County Schools Asks Commissioners For 5% Match Of State Grant Funding For Repair Projects

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The majority of Vance County’s schools need some work, from roof repairs and paint  to sewer lift station upgrades and new windows and doors. All that work would surely come with a hefty price tag, but Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett has a work-around that she presented Tuesday to the Vance County Board of Commissioners.

The work-around comes in the form of a state-administered grant for capital improvements and Vance County could stand to get more than $47 million to make those necessary repairs and renovations, Bennett told commissioners Tuesday.

“The capital needs grant allows us to apply for $47.2 million as a school district,” Bennett stated in her comments to the board. All the commissioners need to do is agree to a 5 percent match.

If the school district were to be approved to receive the maximum amount, the 5 percent match would amount to about $2.5 million.

The matching funds wouldn’t have to be paid all at once; rather, the money could come in over the course of the projects, which could take several years.

Bennett and Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry agree that Vance County is poised to receive the funding because of its Tier 1 designation and because it hasn’t applied previously to get the funding.

Time is of the essence, however, and that’s why Bennett and VCS Chief Finance Officer John Suther appealed to the commissioners for financial support. The grant opened on Aug. 15 and the application came online on Aug. 18, Bennett explained. All documentation must be back to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction no later than Oct. 3.

Although she expressed full support for the plan, Perry said she would request that commissioners have a chance to review the documents shared by Bennett before the board makes a decision.

“I’m in full support,” Perry said, but suggested that commissioners review and discuss the matter at an upcoming work session and then make a decision at a special called meeting in a couple of weeks. As of Thursday morning, that special meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. The matching funds for the schools is one of three topics to be discussed.

“We need to look at our fund balance,” Perry said. “We also have to think about (other) capital projects. The school district gets money from the county each year that is designated for capital outlay, so perhaps some of that money from the budget line item could be used as part of the 5 percent match, she said.

Commissioner Tommy Hester called the decision a “no brainer” since the school district normally relies on county funding for capital projects. A 5 percent match is like saying the county will get a 95 percent discount if the state approves the grant funding.

 

(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)

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TownTalk: Sheriff Brame Requests Extension of Support from County Commissioners

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame appeared before the board of commissioners on Tuesday to thank them for the financial support that allows sheriff’s office employees to give much-needed support at the detention center and to ask for an extension of that support through the end of the year.

In the past five months, County Manager C. Renee Perry said the county has paid more than $483,000. And that is an unsustainable amount, Perry told commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.

Brame contends that much of the money comes from lapsed salaries – money budgeted for positions that haven’t been filled.

“It’s still a lot of money,” Perry told commissioners. “Five hundred thousand is excessive in my opinion.”

Perry estimated that the county has paid for roughly 9,671 hours – at $50/hour to sheriff’s office employees to fill in at the jail. She suggested that the agreement be revised to exclude exempt staff. “We’ve got to get this cost down – we have to,” Perry stated.

Brame said he expects that six of the 12 new jail hires can be certified by Dec. 1.

He said it takes time for employees to be trained, much less certified, for the positions they’ve been hired for.

“Right now, we need it,” Brame told commissioners. The ongoing staffing shortage, coupled with corrective action plans in place by the state spell big challenges for the sheriff, who oversees the detention center.

The state mandated the jail be depopulated, dispersing detainees to other facilities from Cherokee County in the mountains to Brunswick County on the coast.

On any given day, up to four transport teams are traveling to fetch detainees from where they’re being housed to court here in Vance County or to medical appointments. All the while, these teams are on the clock, racking up hours in vehicles, as well as lodging and other associated costs.

The Vance County jail has between 45 and 50 detainees as of Wednesday, but that number can swell temporarily as individuals come in for court appearances and other matters related to due process. Brame said there are about 150 detainees housed in facilities across the state at this time.

Perry said there will come a time when she will have to come before the commissioners to ask them for more money for the jail situation.

“At some point, we won’t have enough money to do a jail,” she said.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt said he would like commissioners to take some time to review the current plan, “probably make some revisions to it to try to tighten the belt a little bit.”

A motion by Commissioner Tommy Hester, seconded by Brummitt, passed unanimously to table a decision until the commissioners’ work session in a couple of weeks.

 

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Kerr-Tar COG Regional Housing Summit Sept. 11 At VGCC Civic Center

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Regional leaders, housing experts and community partners will come together on Thursday, Sept. 11 for the Kerr-Tar Regional Housing Summit, an event designed to address current housing challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The summit will bring together local officials, planners, developers, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening housing availability, affordability and accessibility throughout the region.

“Access to safe, attainable housing is central to our region’s long-term growth and quality of life,” said Kerr-Tar COG Executive Director Diane Cox. “This summit is an opportunity to share knowledge, identify common challenges, and work toward solutions.”

The summit will feature subject matter experts including Tyler Mulligan, professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government. He advises state and local officials as well as partner organizations on community economic development, affordable housing, public-private development partnerships, and revitalization initiatives. Also presenting will be Chris Allen, director of Events and Partnerships at Strong Towns, a national nonprofit that helps communities strengthen their housing markets and expand access to homes at prices residents can afford.

The event will take place at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, 200 Community College Rd.  from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Registration is open to the public, with particular emphasis on participation from government officials, housing professionals, business leaders and community advocates.

For more information or to register, please visit kerrtarcog.org  or contact Desiree Brooks at 252.436.2040 or dbrooks@kerrtarcog.org.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Am I Enough

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We talk about self-doubt in fatherhood.

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: City Council Votes 5-1 Allowing Workshop To Teach Day Trading

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In a 5-1 vote, the Henderson City Council approved a motion that will allow Mayor Melissa Elliott to take part in a “train-the-trainer” session to teach day trading.

Council Member Sam Seifert cast the dissenting vote and Council Members Garry Daeke and Lamont Noel were not present at the special called meeting, announced on Friday, Aug. 29 with the intent of going into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

The meeting lasted just over an hour and the closed session never happened. According to the city’s website, Tuesday’s meeting is the 10th special called meeting of 2025.

Elliott said the grant opportunity comes from the African American Mayors’ Association, which will allow for up to 10 city residents, selected by a committee, to learn the ins and outs of day trading, using $100 of “free” money that is all part of the grant.

Council Member Tami Walker expressed reservations about the program, but she ultimately voted in favor of the city participating. Walker also asked to be included on the committee that will select the individuals who will participate. Elliott said she didn’t have exact dates, but said she would get the dates and send them to the Council.

Much of the meeting was contentious, with Elliott and City Manager/Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry talking over one another and arguing the finer points of mayoral roles and responsibilities versus those of the city manager.

Elliott said she checks the city calendar before scheduling meetings in the Council Chambers; Kingsberry said he needed some notice about any meeting that will be held on city property since it will involve city staff and facilities.

“The city manager doesn’t have power over elected officials,” Elliott said.

And Kingsberry’s response was that he manages City Hall. “I don’t have a problem with you holding things,” he said, adding that “you can’t just commandeer a space in the City Hall.”

We still need to know when it’s going to be.”

Elliott did agree to providing a two-week advance notice to Kingsberry when the Council Chambers would be reserved for a training or a meeting that Elliott schedules.

The City Council is set to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8 for its regular monthly meeting.

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HV Chamber Recognizes 2025 Leadership Vance Class At Annual Graduation Banquet

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The 2025 Class of Leadership Vance had its graduation ceremony last week, adding 17 individuals to the roster of graduates that has successfully completed the annual program hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from a wide range of entities – from banking to local government, nonprofits and the faith community – make up the latest group to take part in the comprehensive program that serves as a way to network with others while learning about the county in which they live and work.

The banquet took place on Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Henderson Country Club. Members of the class shared details about the project they undertook as part of the program, and shared a video that showed highlights of their time together.

Here’s a list of the 2025 class and the organization/workplace each represents:

Judy Ayscue – Benchmark Community Bank

David Caudle – Henderson Family YMCA

Tyler Davis – The Daily Dispatch

Jamie Dittmeyer – City of Henderson

Joseph Coleman Falkner – Paddle Consulting Group, LLC

Victoria Glasscock – KerrTar Regional Council of Governments

Darryl Jones – Community Partners of Hope

Hassan Kingsberry – City of Henderson

DeVona E.Kittrell – Vance County Tax Office

Katie Lee – Vance Recovery

Penny McGhee – CornerClean, LLC

Ferdinand Rouse – Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission

Dr. Abidan Shah – Clearview Church

Angela Simmons – Vance-Granville Community College

Charles Turrentine, Jr. – Exquizid Cuts/Pathways 2 Peace

Amber Varner – First National Bank

Donna Young – Maria Parham Health

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 closed on Wednesdays, but they will be open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
  • The Vance-Warren Beekeepers Association will meet on Monday, September 8th starting at 7pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Collect your soil samples now.
  • Sow tall fescue now through September 15th.
  • Irrigation is needed on newly planted grass and newly planted transplants.
  • Remember your Personal Protective Equipment when doing any landscape chores. Long sleeved shirt, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, etc.
  • Check for Pecan trees for Pecan weevil. Tie a burlap bag around the portion of the pecan tree. If weevils are visible under the burlap bag after a few days. Treat the base of the tree and ground around the tree with liquid Sevin.
  • Check for insects on any recently planted transplants.
  • Take pictures of your garden so you can know how to rotate plantings next year.
  • When purchasing transplants look for a dark green color of leaves, stay away from pot bound transplants.
  • Carolina lawns is the best publication for having a good lawn.
  • Start ordering your fall planting bulbs now.
  • 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

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Community Partners of Hope

Community Partners Of Hope To Launch ‘Freedom B.R.I.D.G.E.’ With Opioid Settlement Funds;

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Community Partners of Hope has been awarded $140,000 from the City of Henderson’s opioid settlement fund and soon will begin a new ministry called “Freedom B.R.I.D.G.E” that will include a community resource center.

B.R.I.D.G.E. stands for Building, Recovery, Intervention, Development for Growth and Empowerment and CPOH board co-chair Jane King said the nonprofit organization is accepting applications for a program director for the new ministry, which will connect individuals affected by opioid use disorder with the support they need to heal and thrive.

The program will use a comprehensive support system ranging from classes and counseling to prevention programs, recovery services and programs for families and friends of clients as well.

The part-time director will report to the CPOH board and will work 12 noon to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Find the application at www.cp-hope.org/freedombridge.