Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

TownTalk: GPS In County Vehicles

/by

As of just a few weeks ago, vehicles that are owned by Vance County are now equipped with GPS tracking devices.

County Manager C. Renee Perry said installing the devices is being done “as a matter of safety and for fleet tracking.” The cost is roughly $9,300 a year, but that doesn’t include vehicles used by the Sheriff’s Office. They don’t have the equipment – yet.

There is some debate between Sheriff Curtis Brame and other county officials about whether the county has the authority to place the GPS trackers on vehicles used by the Sheriff’s Office.

Brame has said he is not in favor of putting the devices on his patrol cars, even though they are county-owned vehicles.

There was discussion at a June 13 county budget work session, during which Perry stated that County Attorney Jonathan Care said the sheriff’s vehicles could be included, but Brame read a statement that supported his claim that the county doesn’t have jurisdiction over the vehicles in his fleet.

The county doesn’t have power over the sheriff’s office or of its personnel; Perry said the board of commissioners “is still considering attorney guidance” in the matter.

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! County Budget Includes $60K For McGregor Hall

/by

The newly adopted FY 2024-25 Vance County budget includes a $60,000 appropriation for McGregor Hall, which represents the full amount requested by the performing arts venue. Executive Director Mark Hopper told WIZS News earlier today that he is “absolutely elated” with the commissioners’ action.

“It’s the first step toward making this facility function in a way that every other facility functions in the state,” Hopper said in a telephone interview Tuesday morning. “It’s a really important first step.”

Commissioner Archie Taylor is also on the board of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation. He said Tuesday that McGregor Hall attracts tourism dollars to the county each time an event is held there.

“As a commissioner, I look at our community as a whole, what is beneficial for Vance County, not for any particular organization,” Taylor said. He referred to a recent economic impact study completed by N.C. State University, which concluded that McGregor Hall has a multi-million dollar impact on the county, bringing outside dollars through sales tax and hotel/motel tax revenues.

The Henderson City Council included a $5,000 one-time grant to McGregor Hall in its recently adopted budget, representing just more than 6 percent of the total amount – $75,000 – that was requested.

City leaders have discussed the purchase of a downtown property currently owned by McGregor Hall for a price in the range of $255,000. When asked whether the sale would move forward, Hopper said “the city has not contacted us.”

CLICK PLAY!

Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Japanese Beetles

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

 

Cooperative Extension With Wayne Rowland – Blossom End Rot

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

 

Vance Charter Student Completes Week As Page In N.C. House Of Representatives

/by

— Courtesy of the Office of N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon

Noah Bean, a rising senior at Vance Charter School, got to see the legislative process “up close and personal” recently as he participated in the N.C. House Page Program.

Bean, son of Ashley and Michael Bean of Henderson, is also the school’s Student Body President. He was sponsored by N.C. House Rep. Frank Sossamon to participate in the page program. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for the program, designed to provide students with an educational experience while connecting them directly with elected leaders and offering an inside look at the workings of state government, according to a press release from Clai Keel, a staffer in Sossamon’s office.

“The House Page Program is an incredible opportunity for young minds to immerse themselves in the legislative process,” Sossamon said. “It equips them with knowledge and experience that go beyond textbooks, preparing them for active citizenship and leadership roles in the future.”

Pages get to see how a bill becomes law, gain insights into the structure of state government and understand the legislative process.

Reflecting on his experience, Bean shared, “I gained an inside look and a deeper understanding of how our state’s legislative branch operates. We performed various tasks, assisted with voting sessions and committee meetings, and more. It was an incredibly valuable experience, and I feel immensely grateful to have participated!”

Students from District 32 and beyond are encouraged to consider this opportunity for the long session in 2025. The weeks available for service during the long session (odd-numbered years) are from February through August, while in the short session (even-numbered years), the weeks begin in mid-April/May through August. Pages serve for one week and must be sponsored by a Member of the N.C. House of Representatives.

During their week of service, Pages attend sessions in the House Chamber where bills are introduced, debated and passed. They are assigned to strategic stations throughout the Chamber, assisting House Members by delivering messages, bills, amendments, committee reports and other documents as needed.

Applications will be available online prior to the start of each session. The selection process for this program is highly competitive and appointments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the application process, visit the North Carolina House Page Program website.

 

Vance County Logo

TownTalk: Does Vance County Know Where Its Money Is?

/by

Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry has confirmed that there is an open investigation into the practices of the county’s former finance director after a recent audit found deficiencies in financial processes that involves $1.1 million in county funds.

The audit presented at the June 3 Board of Commissioners meeting revealed that the former finance director “wired, from the County’s bank account, funds equating to approximately $1.1 million dollars through the end of fiscal year 2023, with subsequent wire transfers occurring into fiscal year 2024.”

Katherine Bigelow had served as the county’s finance director since 2019. She was dismissed in February 2024; on May 10, Perry sent an email to county staff informing them of Bigelow’s “recent passing.”

The county has 60 days from the June 3 audit report presentation to present a plan of action to the Local Government Commission.

In an email to WIZS earlier today, Perry said the audit – a public record – disclosed some of the information, adding that there is little else she can say at this point, per the FBI.

“The County was deprived of its monetary resources, resources which should have gone to covering legitimate expenditures and projects which the County has undertaken,” the audit report stated.

The audit report identified four “significant” audit findings: budget violation, reconciliation of records, internal controls and timeliness. In his presentation to commissioners, Alan Thompson said his team at Whiteville-based Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams, and Co., P.A. noted that the county failed to comply with General Statutes by not having a two-signature process in place as it pertains to county funds.

This lack of secondary approval or oversight allowed for the finance director to post entries in the county’s financial software; the audit pointed to lack of sufficient training and cross-training practices to ensure proper handling of financial matters.

Citing timeliness of the numbers and the accuracy of the numbers they were provided, Thompson said they discovered issues that they couldn’t get satisfactory answers for.

“By November, she (Bigelow) wasn’t giving us information in a timely way,” Thompson said.

Thompson conceded that his team could have done a better job briefing Perry – who only came on board in November 2023.

“At that point, we didn’t suspect foul play, but we didn’t know,” Thompson said.

Over the past three or four months, county staff and the audit team have communicated weekly – sometimes daily, and Perry said, “We’ve had conversations…moving forward, things will be different.”

Commission Chair Dan Brummitt said he would like to see an agreement “defined in writing. There appears to have been some miscommunication along the way,” he said. Brummitt said he would go so far as to create an Audit Committee, made up of commissioners and others with accounting experience.

(As of 2-5-25 this story contains a correction. Alan Thompson should have been listed as the person who presented the audit report.)

CLICK PLAY!