Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Blackmon briefly discussed his time with the City, stating the start of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after his arrival in January has made for an interesting first year on the job.
“It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting when you throw in everything that’s happened with COVID,” said Blackmon. “I can say I enjoy the community, I enjoy being here and I enjoy the challenge of making Henderson a better place for everyone. Overall, I’m doing well, and the City is doing well.”
Moving on to last night’s Henderson City Council meeting, Blackmon commented on a few of the highlights from the session, including the approval of adding indoor – or crop box – farming to City zoning ordinances.
With greenhouse farming already approved for accessory-use in current zoning ordinances, the addition of crop box farming will allow participating individuals a 365-day growing season in artificial light.
Also of note, the Council rejected the Beckford Drive Widening Project that was first initiated in 2008 when construction costs were much lower. Blackmon said the delays, due to property acquisition and rising costs in construction, have pushed the project cost beyond its budgeted amount. With $1.6 million in grants and available funding already allocated, Blackmon said the City is still approximately $1.3 million short of the total project cost.
According to the meeting’s minutes, to date, $335,115 has been put towards the project, which includes the design, right of way acquisition, legal administration, stream mitigation costs and NCDOT administration costs. The City is responsible for these costs and will have to reimburse NCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to abandon the project.
Also discussed was the use of CARES Act funding to ensure City of Henderson facilities are safer during the pandemic, the naming of a new economic development director and the City of Henderson’s Main Street status.
Cara Boyd Gill, founder and director of S.a.M. Child Advocacy Center in Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
S.a.M. Child Advocacy Center is a 24-hour, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves children who are victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and witnesses to violent crimes in Vance and surrounding counties.
Opening its doors in 2016, the center provides a safe, child-friendly environment for children who are alleged victims of abuse and their non-offending family members to receive child forensic interviews by trained staff.
Victims and their non-offending family members can receive advocacy and support services, referrals to appropriate support services within the community, crisis intervention and medical treatment referrals if needed. All services are provided at no cost to the child or their families.
Gill, who worked for Child Protective Services in Alamance County upon graduating from college, said it was her experience with child investigations and the child advocacy center in Alamance that sparked her interest in offering similar services in Vance County.
“Upon leaving Alamance County – because Henderson is my hometown, and I decided I wanted to come back home – I began talking to our local law enforcement, social services, and our District Attorney’s office to see how they handled cases of child abuse and neglect,” explained Gill. “At the time, they did not have a child advocacy center here, and they would send kids to Duke or UNC with a two or three-month wait, which is not ideal for these kids.”
Gill continued, “A child advocacy center is not a stand-alone center; I also have to have social services, law enforcement, the DA’s office, a mental health provider and a medical provider. In talking with these entities, we began brainstorming how this could happen. The result was we opened in 2016, and here we are in 2020 still expanding.”
For more information on S.a.M., please visit the center’s Facebook page by clicking here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SaM-Child-Advocacy-Center.jpg265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-12-14 12:45:452020-12-14 13:30:09Town Talk 12/14/20: Cara Gill Of S.a.M. Child Advocacy Center
WIZS TownTalk host Bill Harris and guest Mark Pace discuss emigration from Old Granville County.
What were the reasons people left the area in the early to mid 19th Century? The need of land was one reason and land was cheap in areas such as Tennessee and Alabama. Land grants from the Revolution also provided incentive, and larger quantities of land were needed as large families with eight to 10 to 12 children grew. Land quality was a factor as well because without enough land, proper crop rotations could not occur.
Where did they go? Numerous communities such as Macon, Georgia or Granville, Tennessee were named for people or locations in the immediate vicinity of Henderson and Oxford. Many families moved to and founded the communities in these areas for better opportunities.
For more details and TownTalk audio click play…and continue reading below…
Additionally, many people with roots here went on to become famous nationally and internationally. Playwright Tennessee Williams, Gen. Braxton Bragg, former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and “Lady Bird” Johnson all had or have roots tying them to the area.
Just as Vance, Granville, Warren & Franklin Counties were shaped by those who moved here from Southern and Tidewater Virginia, many areas in Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and other southern states were equally influenced by those who left here to make their mark in these states and others.
For more on local history and genealogy visit Mark Pace at the NC Room at Thornton Library in Oxford and visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/fgvwgeneaology on the web for more information on Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren county history and genealogy.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Granville-Tennessee-photo-by-Mark-Pace.jpg265504Bill Harrishttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngBill Harris2020-12-10 12:58:222020-12-11 19:13:50TownTalk 12-10-20 Local History With Mark Pace
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m. Ellington was interviewed by WIZS guest host Brandon Boyd.
Prior to discussing his role as mayor and the City of Henderson’s present standing and future outlook, Ellington talked about growing up in Henderson, his Castello Loughlin family history and the creation of the circus.
When asked by Boyd if being mayor met his expectations for the role, Ellington replied, “I have enjoyed it, but I wear a lot of it on my shoulders and take it personally. Even though things happen that are not related to me, I’m the mayor and it falls back on me. When you’re the mayor for the city, you’re the ambassador and spokesperson for the city.”
(To hear this episode of TownTalk, click play below. TownTalk airs M-F at 11 a.m. on WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM.)
According to Ellington, the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has made this year particularly challenging. “The Henderson City Council, City Manager and I have tough decisions to make. We’re a small, rural community, and we’ve all been hit by the same deal. You take your cards, you play them and you make the best decisions for the public’s well-being.”
In more upbeat news, Ellington reported that the City of Henderson, despite the pandemic, is doing well financially. “The City is in better financial shape than it has been in years,” stated Ellington. “Frank Frazier, the previous city manager, did a wonderful job of balancing the budget every year. Terrell Blackmon, current city manager, has done a wonderful job as well, and he’s going to bring a budget to us in the upcoming months.”
Ellington also reported that Mako Medical, with facilities currently located in Henderson and Raleigh, is in talks of moving its operation to Henderson, resulting in the creation of 100 new jobs for the local area.
“Economic development is the key,” explained Ellington. “When you have jobs, when the poverty rates are low, when people can make a living and provide for their families, when people can go off to college and have something to come back home to, the community thrives.”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Henderson-Mayor-Eddie-Ellington-093019.png294560Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-12-09 13:41:592020-12-09 19:45:01Town Talk 12/9/20: Mayor Eddie Ellington With Brandon Boyd
In a special edition of WIZS Town Talk on Tuesday at 11 a.m., WIZS staff – past and present – and others fondly remembered George Blackmore Rush, Jr., former WIZS general manager. Rush passed away at his home on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at the age of 87.
Born in Aliquippa, PA on July 31, 1933, he was the son of the late Dr. George Blackmore Rush, Sr. and Cassie Federer Rush. George attended Grove City College, earned his MBA from the University of South Carolina and was a Veteran of the United States Army.
His professional experience included management of credit and collection personnel and sales, consulting, general management and newscasting. He was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in Henderson where he formerly served as a deacon and elder.
Rush retired from WIZS in 2018, in his mid-eighties, after more than 15 years with the station.
“George was there for us many different times and led us through quite a number of trials and tribulations. He was also there enjoying the good times,” said WIZS General Manager John Charles Rose. “In particular, for me, was the time my own father passed away. George was right there to step in, not only as a friend but as a fatherly-figure and someone who could help the radio station continue to sustain what we had and continue to grow at a very difficult time.”
Rose continued, “He was a great businessman; he really knew how to run and operate a business.”
In a special edition of WIZ Town Talk on Tuesday at 11 a.m., WIZS staff – past and present – and others fondly remembered George Blackmore Rush, Jr., former WIZS general manager. Rush passed away at his home on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at the age of 87. (Photo courtesy J.M. White Funeral Home)
Trey Snide, WIZS account manager, said Rush was a “wealth of information” and was always willing to lend a helping hand. “Every time I had a question or a problem, he was able to help solve it. I’ve been here at WIZS going on four years now, and what I remember the most is the knowledge George had of the local Vance County community. I’m grateful he was part of my beginning steps at the station.”
WIZS Program Manager Bill Harris said Rush was “a joy to work with.”
“I don’t think I ever saw George mad,” said Harris. “He always had a kind word to say about people and was extremely nice and considerate. He was always the perfect gentleman.”
Harris said he was impressed by how quickly and thoroughly Rush, a PA native, adapted to the local area. “He had so much knowledge and very much acclimated himself to this area.”
This sentiment was echoed by Tom Hannon, Rush’s former WIZS Town Talk co-host and supervisor while employed at Roses Stores: “George adapted himself to Vance County. He brought a knowledge of national and local implications of such things as gross national product, interest rates and the stock market and explained how these could affect the everyday person in Vance County.”
Matthew Handley, who worked for WIZS while on break from college during the summers, said Rush stands out in his mind as being one of the people to help launch his career. “George was in the room when I had my first interview at WIZS,” Handley explained. “I look back on that interview as being the start of my career in this industry, and that’s one of the things I’m going to remember him for. He took a chance on me that allowed me to get to the point where I am now with a full-time career in Michigan.”
Sherman Wilson, George’s former co-host on Friday’s Town Talk Trivia, said, “It was a pure joy to work with him on that show. I think he enjoyed it as much as I did. Sometimes on Town Talk we acted silly and had a lot of fun, but make no mistake about it, George was a really smart guy. No matter who came on the show, no matter what the subject, he could interview them. He did it with ease and made the people he was interviewing feel comfortable.”
Brandon Boyd, Town Talk guest host, said, “We mourn the loss, and we celebrate the life of George Rush. George loved Henderson; he loved Vance County and its people; he loved our stories. George Rush was a name we all knew and a voice we recognized, and George loved WIZS Radio.”
Rush is survived by his wife, Jane Negus Rush of the home; his daughter, Catherine Rush-Braswell and husband, Joseph of Durham; his son, George Warren Rush and wife, Linda of Henderson; a granddaughter, Kelly Twisdale; a grandson, Benjamin Rush; and a sister, Susan Bean and husband, David of Mason, OH. (Obituary information courtesy J.M White Funeral Home.)
A private memorial service will be held today at First Presbyterian Church by Rev. Matthew Copple. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 726, Henderson, NC 27536.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/George-Rush.jpg265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-12-08 13:07:092020-12-08 16:27:14Town Talk 12/8/20: Remembering George B. Rush, Jr.
Krissie Newman, co-founder of the Rescue Ranch in Statesville, NC, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
The 87-acre ranch promotes humane education by focusing on animal rescue through hands-on learning and care.
Newman discussed her passion for animals, the operation of the ranch during the COVID-19 pandemic and working with other animal protection services such as the local Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society (RCAPS).
To hear the interview in its entirety, click play.
Locally, RCAPS is dedicated to helping homeless animals find rescue placement and works closely with area shelters.
Heading into the new year, Rescue Ranch will partner with RCAPS for its new foster and adoption program. “We will be taking in volunteers willing to foster with us and working with Ruin Creek on adoptions,” said Newman. “This is something that has been in our footprint at the ranch for a long time; now is the time to bring the dogs and the cats into the program.”
In addition to the rescue foster and adoption program, Rescue Ranch’s future plans include nature hiking and walking education trails, a 24-hour emergency veterinarian clinic with an extern program and a therapeutic riding program.
Tours of the ranch are available by appointment by calling (704) 768-0909. To learn more about Rescue Ranch, please visit www.rescueranch.com. For updates on RCAPS, please visit the group’s Facebook page.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Rescue-Ranch.jpg265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-12-07 13:33:252020-12-07 16:05:24Town Talk 12/7/20: Rescue Ranch, Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society to Partner
