Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

TownTalk: Update on the Vance County Jail

 

The Vance County Board of Commissioners got updates Monday on several matters that involve the detention center, ranging from repairs to the existing facility, plans for a new facility and new hires to help close the gap in staffing.

Blair Bordeaux, president of Bordeaux Construction, and Todd Davis, vice president of Moseley Architecture, are heading up the design/build team and talked through with commissioners the process that will help achieve the ultimate goal of having a functioning jail while a new one is being built.

County Manager C. Renee Perry was scheduled to meet today (Wednesday) with the design/build team to get details on just how the process will unfold as sufficient renovations are made to the existing facility as plans for a new jail are made.

They did a walk-through of the current jail on July 1 and mentioned numerous areas that need attention, including the video security system.

“In looking at the cameras and security electronics system, the first thing we noticed, it’s not a digital system,” Davis said. There is one server, designed to accommodate maybe 55 or 60 cameras. The jail’s single server has closer to 90 cameras, but 22 weren’t working when they checked them out during the walk-through.

“That needs to be changed, right off the bat,” Davis said.

One problem creates additional problems, and when you combine a staff shortage with the age of the jail and its less-than-perfect design, the problems soon mount.

Brame told commissioners that he’s hired eight new officers and hopes to hire five more in the next few weeks. Six of the eight new hires still have to complete detention center training.

The sheriff reminded commissioners that detention center staff may not always on site at the jail – they often are transporting inmates to and from other detention centers or in court.

Over the past couple of months, Special Project Coordinator Frankie Nobles has been overseeing repairs to the jail.

During that time, county maintenance workers have checked off a number of repairs, from replacing dropped ceiling tiles and making sure that all doors can be secured to cleaning, sanitizing and repairing bathrooms and fixtures.

“Frankie Nobles and his team have done all that they can do,” said Sheriff Curtis Brame, adding that he’s ready to “let the professionals with the skill sets and tools come in” to complete more specialized repairs.

The trouble is, some detainees damage property almost as quickly as repairs can be made – a source of concern for commissioners. The staff shortage, coupled with an inadequate security system, means that supervision is less than ideal.

“You’ve got some very improper sight lines, Davis said. “If you can’t get those sight lines better and you can’t get control over when these inmates come out and who comes out,” it’s going to continue to be difficult to properly supervise the detainees.

“Staffing is going to continue to be a problem, it’s not just here, it’s everywhere,” Davis said.

“Your jail is too old to try to patch,” Davis said. “You’ve got to increase that supervision better – no way around it, but you can’t do that with one or two people.  In my opinion, you’re in a bad situation.”

 

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Home and Garden Show

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

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Today they have tomatoes, snapbeans, beets, cabbages, yellow squash, zucchini squash, red irish potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, peaches, and canned items.
  • The Vance-Warren Beekeepers Association will meet on July 14th, 2025 starting at 7pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • The 2025 Landowners and Heirs Property Workshop will be on July 24th, 2025 from 8am to 4:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Check for flooded rows after storms have passed open ends of rows to let excess water out.
  • Check harvest intervals  on the label before applying any chemical on crops that you will be harvesting soon.
  • Cooperative Extension has excellent publications on canning and freezing your garden harvest.
  • Prune water sprouts on fruit trees.
  • Keep that garden journal updated each day you work in the garden. Ex: spray schedule, top dressing with fertilizer.
  • Start planning your fall garden.
  • Let your children and grandchildren help in the garden and teach them now, they are our future gardeners.
  • If planning to renovate your in September take a soil sample now.
  • Carolina lawns is the best publication for having a good lawn.
  • If you have pumpkins, put a board under the pumpkins to get them off the ground.
  • 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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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Brimming With Fresh Produce

This time of year, the vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market have to squeeze together just a bit to accommodate the tables of fresh produce, baked goods and more that are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The bay doors are full,” said Market Manager Pat Ayscue. “We kind of slip and slide a little closer to each other this time of year.”

In addition to the sweet corn, butterbeans, peas and more, there’s a new local producer who’s bringing in peaches. “He fills the back of his truck up, and they are so delicious!” Ayscue said.

Come on out to the market on Saturday, July 26 to celebrate the birthday of long-time vendor Calvin Adcock.

There will most likely be a cake with candles, but who knows – there could be candles in a birthday watermelon – the market also is celebrating Watermelon Day that day.

“Everybody loves and appreciates Mr. Adcock so much…it just all works together really well for both days to be together,” Ayscue said. “He’s a real inspiration to us all.”

To mark Watermelon Day, Ayscue said she’ll be giving away free watermelons every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon.

It’s shaping up to be a great watermelon harvest, she said, unlike last year when untimely drought and then heavy rains took tolls on the summertime favorite.

“Last year was a rough season on watermelons,” Ayscue said. “This season is looking really good…this year, we’ve hit it just right.”

Be on the lookout for Sugar Baby, Charleston Gray and Jubilee varieties.

Eligible customers can stretch their produce budget with the Senior Voucher and Double Bucks programs. EBT is accepted as well.

“If you use your EBT card at our market, I can match that with Double Bucks to stretch your food dollars,” she said.

The Senior Voucher program is a state program, and Ayscue said the vouchers can be used at any farmers market that is certified.

Artis Crews with Green Rural Redevelopment Organization will be at the market this Saturday to sign up seniors for the voucher program.

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4-H Logo

Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe: All Things 4-H

Micah Sharpe, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Joy Othoo, a rising senior at NC State University majoring in Agroecology and Community Food Systems and an intern with the Vance County Cooperative Extension, joins Micah Sharpe on this edition of All Things 4-H to discuss her time in Vance County with her internship.

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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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Two-Spotted Spider Mites

Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Two-Spotted spider mites can invade landscape plants quickly in hot dry conditions.

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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Vance County Logo

Department Of Social Services Board Votes DSS Director Out

UPDATE July 2, 7:25 PM

The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.

Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.

“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.

“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.

But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”

The newly adopted county budget for 2025-26 includes $10,225,717 for administrative costs at DSS, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry. Perry told WIZS News Wednesday that Cassandra Hart is the interim director.

Perry referred other questions to the DSS Board Chair. WIZS reached out to Frieson Wednesday for comment. “Due to pending legal action I cannot comment at this time,” Frieson stated.

In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.

Then last week, a cybersecurity breach occurred at Vance County DSS that is currently under investigation.

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UPDATE July 1, 4:56 PM

The Vance County Department of Social Services Board of Directors has voted to dismiss DSS Director Sandy Weaver.

Weaver was appointed to the role on Oct. 1, 2024. County Attorney Jonathan Care confirmed the board’s decision took place on Wednesday, June 18 in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday.

“The county’s official statement is ‘This is a DSS personnel matter,’” Care said, adding that the DSS board is the hiring authority of the director.

“She was within her nine-month probationary period, and they voted before the expiration of that probationary period not to continue her employment,” Care said.

But DSS Board Chair Leonard Frieson said, “Because of pending matters, I can’t say anything. You need to contact the county attorney or the county manager – they will speak for me.”

In May 2025, the state notified the county that it would be taking over part of the DSS child welfare services, citing numerous safety violations and social work practices that didn’t align with law, rule or policy – despite having been under a correction action plan since June 2024.

A cybersecurity breach occurred last week at Vance County DSS that is under investigation by state and federal authorities.