Melody Peters, Youth Services Librarian at Perry Memorial Library, joins The Local Skinny! to talk about the events going on in November.
(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)
CLICK PLAY!
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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
Click Play!
Vance County Economic Director Ferdinand Rouse is leaving the job to take a position as economic development director for the town of Zebulon.
Rouse told WIZS News Tuesday morning his last day with Vance County is Nov.12.
Since coming on board in July 2024, Rouse has been involved with bringing Syntec to locate here. Several existing businesses also have begun expansions during his time as economic development director, he said.
“My decision to leave is based solely on the strength of the opportunity in Zebulon,” Rouse said. “They made a compelling offer that I ultimately felt I could not pass up. I have truly enjoyed my time with Vance County and would not have considered leaving otherwise.”
He said the controversy surrounding the proposed data center was not a factor in his decision to leave.
“I believe that having more citizens aware of how local government operates, and feeling encouraged to participate, will be beneficial overall. Whether or not the data center projects come to fruition, I hope everyone continues to stay involved in local government and works to make Vance County the best version of itself.”
Rouse is the county’s fourth economic development director in the past 10 years.
CLICK PLAY!
The County of Vance has been named in a lawsuit that asserts discrimination during the hiring process of the county fire chief in April 2025.
In the lawsuit filed earlier this month in Vance County Superior Court, Robert A. Maddry, II said he was discriminated against because of his race and age and that he was more qualified for the job than the person ultimately chosen for the position. In addition to asking for a jury trial, the plaintiff is seeking to be placed in the fire chief position, with back pay and all benefits and seniority rights and seeks compensatory damages in excess of $100,000 and other court-related costs including his legal representation.
The lawsuit states that Maddry has “extensive background, experience, and certifications in fire service and fire prevention” with “over 30 years of fire service and prevention leadership experience across a wide variety of locations and roles.”
Maddry applied for the job of county fire chief in December 2024, when he was 55.
According to the lawsuit, Maddry was one of six applicants selected for interviews and one of two finalists.
CLICK PLAY!
If it’s the last Saturday in October, it must mean that it’s time for the fall festival at Turning Point CDC.
This is the 6th year for the fall festival, and Nina Evans, Turning Point’s director of Community Engagement said there will be loads of activities, food and fun for folks of all ages.
The festival runs from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at its location on Norlina Road, Evans said.
Sprinkled among the tables and tents of community resource vendors and small businesses are exciting activities for the youngsters who come out – there’s a bounce house, BINGO and plenty of carnival games to keep them entertained.
“We should have a full yard with lots of activities happening,” Evans said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
There will even be a talent show this year, and although it won’t be a judged competition, Evans said it will be a chance to “give youth an opportunity to showcase their talent.
The Oasis of Hope food pantry will be open during the festival, and Evans said it’s just one of the outreach projects that Turning Point CDC is involved with.
Come out and learn more about the after-school program, the summer learning program and career launch program, she said.
Visit https://oasisofhopemin.org/who-we-are to learn more about Oasis of Hope and Turning Point CDC.
CLICK PLAY!
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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
Click Play!
The staff members at Perry Memorial Library stay busy bringing all types of programs and special events for the community, and Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters said she loves it when patrons make suggestions for programs that she and others may not come up with on their own.
Take the Gaming Club, for example. Sure, young people love video games, so the library offered an afternoon for that activity. But there was so much interest, Peters told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!, that now gamers can gather on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and then a spinoff group will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays for Dungeons & Dragons.
Abigail Martin is the library’s youth outreach coordinator. Contact Abby – also a gaming enthusiast – to learn more at amartin@perrylibrary.org.
Patrons also wanted to have more movies, so families are invited to come out Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. for the Halloween-themed film “Frankenweenie” to get you in the spirit. The screen isn’t as big as one you’d find in a movie theater, but the popcorn’s free and so is admission.
Other activities with a Halloween theme include:
Monday, Oct. 26 Teen Time: Goosebumps and Punch. Teens will enjoy making a fizzy mocktail drink and Monster Munch trail mix from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
While the teens are enjoying themselves, the rest of the family can enjoy Family Paint Night, Peters said. A local artist offered to teach and guide families for a two-week session, beginning Oct. 26 and continuing on Monday, Nov. 2.
As if that weren’t enough, the next day, Tuesday, Oct. 27 is the library’s Fall Festival. There will be games and crafts for the kids from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., then Trunk-or-Treat in the parking area from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Families love it,” Peters said. “It’s a good time, a safe environment…we like to be able to offer that. Come for the candy, but you’ll also get a chance to admire the creativity involved in all the decorating that goes along with Trunk or Treat.
Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, join the library staff for the October Read Out at Chestnut Street Park. The bookmobile will pay a visit, and kids can get a free book and coloring sheets at the hour-long event, which begins at 4:30 p.m.
The park is located at 745 N. Chestnut St.
The last Thursday of each month belongs to the Anime Club. The club meets from 3:30 p.m. to -4:30 p.m. The group will meet on Thursday, Oct. 29.
“Kids love to get together and talk ‘anime’,” Peters said.
If you don’t know what anime is, and if there’s not a tween or teen nearby, it’s a wildly popular animation style that originated in Japan that has fans from children to adults.
Visit www.perrylibrary.org to learn more about all the programs and special events at Perry Memorial Library.
CLICK PLAY!
The WIZS News team strives to bring the community important information through fair, objective and balanced reporting. We sent a list of questions to candidates in contested seats for Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education. Early voting in Vance County begins Thursday, Oct. 15 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Below are questions sent to Angela Cooper Lyons and Hailey Breeze Macklin, candidates for the District 7 seat on the Vance County Board of Education:
Here are their unedited responses to those questions, which appear in alphabetical order.
Responses from Candidate Angela Cooper Lyons:
God helped guide my decision to run for the Vance County Board of Education. My decision was shaped by the recurring concerns surrounding our children and the future of Vance County Public Schools. With my lifelong connection to this community and my passion for serving children and families I felt led to step forward and be a voice for our students, parents, and the community. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and I want to be part of making a positive difference in their educational journey.
My platform is “Stronger Schools.” Brighter Futures.”
*Our Children. Our Schools. Our Future”
(1) Put Students First.
Every student deserves access to a quality education, a safe and supportive learning environment, and the opportunity to succeed. Student achievement, individual learning needs, and the overall well-being of our children must remain the school district’s highest priorities.
If elected, I will advocate for policies and decisions that put students first. I will support efforts to improve academic achievement, address barriers to learning, promote safe schools, and ensure students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential. I will listen to parents, students, teachers, and school staff to better understand their concerns and work collaboratively toward solutions that improve educational outcomes.
(2) Support Teachers and Strengthen Our Schools
Teachers and School staff are essential to student success. They need the support, resources, and working conditions necessary to educations are supported, our schools and students benefit.
I will advocate for providing teachers with the resources and classroom support they need, listening to their concerns, and recognizing their important role in our children’s education. I will support responsible efforts to recruit and retain qualified educators, strengthen professional development, and address challenges that affect teacher morale and retention. I believe teachers should have a meaningful voice in discussions about the needs of our schools.
(3) Demand Transparency and Fiscal Accountability
Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability in how public education funds are managed and spent. our community should have confidence that financial decisions are responsible. clearly explained, and focused on the educational needs of our students.
If elected, I will ask thoughtful questions, carefully review budgets and expenditure, and advocate for clear communication about how education funds are allocated and used. I believe public education dollars should be invested in strengthening our public schools and supporting students, teacher, and classrooms. I will promote open decision-making, responsible financial oversight, and accountability to the families and taxpayers we serve.
My beliefs are rooted in my faith, my lifelong connection to this community, and my passion for serving children and families. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with putting students first, supporting our teacher, and strengthening our schools.
I am passionate about making sure public education funds are used responsibly with transparency and accountability. I believe we must listen to our parents, teachers, and community and work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of our children.
As a graduate of Vance County public schools, former student bus driver, and a substitute teacher, I have firsthand experience with our school system.
I bring more than 12 years of service as a Guardian ad Litem advocate, community leadership experience, and over 33 years of service with the State of North Carolina in health and human services.
These experiences have taught me the importance of advocating for children, listening to families, documentation, accountability, and working with people from different backgrounds. I will bring that knowledge, along with my lifelong connection to this community, to the Board of Education, keeping students first , supporting teachers, and promoting transparency and responsible decision-making.
If elected, my first goal would be to listen, learn, and understand the needs of our students, teachers, parents, and school staff. I want to review current priorities, advocate for student success, support our teachers, and promote transparency and accountability in how public education funds are spent.
My long-term goal is to help strengthen Vance County Schools by improving student achievement, supporting teacher recruitment and retention, and ensuring our schools have the resources needed to prepare students for college, careers, and life. I want to help build trust with our community and ensure that every decision keeps our children’s best interests at heart.
My vision is to work toward lasting improvements that benefit our students, strengthen our schools, and create brighter futures for generations to come.
I want voters to know that my commitment to children, families, and this community is not new. It is reflected in my years of public-service, child advocacy, and community involvement. As a graduate of Vance County public schools. I have a personal connection to the success of our school system.
My faith guides me, and I believe every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, every teacher deserves support, and our community deserves transparency and accountability.
I am stepping forward because I care about the future of our children and our schools. I am committed to listening, learning, and working with others to make decisions that put students first.
Together, we can work toward Stronger Schools Brighter Futures. Our Children. Our Schools. Our Future
————-
Responses from Candidate Hailey Breeze Macklin:
Over the last year I have become very interested in today’s topics that revolve around the public school system. I have a strong passion for education trends in the school system and since they change so often, I believe it is important to note which changes are necessary and which ones are not. The board of education involves decisions that affect not only our students but our teachers, staff, families, and even the community. As a young recently graduated education major, I believe that I can be a voice that listens to all sides of education.
I would identify my platform as strong schools make strong communities. The future of Vance County is being partly raised in the school system since that is where they spend the majority of their years. If a school system teaches communication, trust, leadership, and other important life skills, the community would be able to be more involved and help teach these skills. For example, a designated leadership learning day could allow students to meet leaders in the community that could provide clear insights on how to be a leader.
There are many important issues that the school district is facing but the three that stand out the most to me are: 1. Teacher Recruitment and Retention, 2. Early Childhood Literacy, and 3. Life after School. First, teacher recruitment and retention is a very important topic because it means so much more than teacher pay. Of course, you see the billboards all down the NC highways and
interstates that support paying NC teachers better, but we need to first start out with the support part. Being a teacher is so much more than a job. You are a support person for so many young people, and as a support person, you need to feel supported yourself. Keeping teachers is definitely a struggle because when they do not feel supported, it is harder to keep them. As a school board member, I could bring this issue to the board’s attention by focusing on teacher morale and involving teacher opinions. Making decisions without teacher input is one of those things that make teachers feel unsupported. The second issue I see the school district facing is early childhood literacy. I have a strong background in elementary education and I believe that schools should notice learning gaps in the elementary ages rather than waiting till middle or high school. Children that start out with a strong understanding of reading, writing, and math tend to have success in middle and high school. One way to implement this would be making sure our district is supporting the students with successful learning programs. There are many literacy and math programs that NC schools use and doing research on all these and figuring out which ones seem to be the most beneficial towards closing learning gaps, then it would be worth it to test them out. The last issue I want to bring up would be life after school/graduation. There are so
many different successful paths that a student can take after high school graduation. Being in support of all these paths is very important in order to have success in strong schools making strong communities. It isn’t out of the ordinary for schools to have college and job fairs but making sure students know their options is very important. A lot of schools shove the idea of college towards their graduating students but some already have their perfect future laid out for them with family business, trades, etc. Having the community advertise their options for students throughout the school provides students with comfort of knowing they have options.
I have a passion to make sure every student is provided with strong foundations from their early elementary years and then continuing to prepare them for long success after they leave a classroom. A great school starts with great teachers and giving the teachers the support they need allows the students to get the foundations they need in order to succeed. Partnerships between schools, local businesses, and colleges allow many opportunities that will help student success. Great teachers, strong foundations, involved families, and real-world opportunities are the ultimate ways to make Vance Co. Schools the best it can be.
My personal and professional experiences would allow me to bring both an educational and real-world perspective to the Vance County Board of Education. I earned a Master’s degree in Elementary last year so I am very familiar with the importance of strong instruction. I have also seen firsthand the challenges that educators or anyone who works close to the education system face. I also have experience working in and helping operate my family business. Working in this family business has taught me skills that are valuable in public service. Things like budgeting, accounting, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and decision making based on employee, customer, and community opinion. Also, Vance County is home. I care about the future of the community and public schools are essential to its future. My training in education and in business allows me to bring a unique perspective to the Board of Education.
There are many goals that I would like to achieve if I am elected for office. Short term goals would include listening and learning. Since I would be new to the board of education I would want to take the time to hear directly from teachers, parents, students, and administrators since they are the ones who deal with the classroom directly on a day to day basis. Hearing directly from this group of people would help benefit the school board in fixing the major issues a district has. Another short term goal I have would be creating strong communication between the schools and the community. Local business, organizations, and community colleges can serve a big role in helping our students succeed after high school. My long term goal is to make Vance County Schools a district that everyone is proud of. Families, teachers, and students are a huge part of the district and understanding their opinions and reasonings is the first step to making this long term goal a reality.
Click Play!
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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
Click Play!
More than 50 people showed up Monday morning to a press conference held by Kerr Regional Citizen Voices, which expressed support for a minimum two-year moratorium on data center development in the state.
The press conference took place at a location on U.S. 158, close to the 500+ acre tract that is being considered for a hyperscale data center. According to organizers, this is the first of several press conferences to be held across the state that will call state lawmakers to put in place at least a two-year moratorium on data center development.
The application was approved by Vance County late last week, coincidentally, but the press conference had been planned before that application approval was made.
Those in attendance heard from a handful of people who shared their remarks and their unique perspectives with regard to data center development.
Although this particular data center project is at the heart of the opposition, speakers expressed discontent about the county process for discussion, consideration and approval of economic development projects. Speakers called for transparency about prospective projects before decisions are made.
Warren County’s Deborah Ferruccio has been involved with grassroots environmental justice efforts for close to 50 years and said that counties in North Carolina and Virginia that share the Roanoke River Basin – Kerr Lake and Lake Gaston – need to join forces.
“Once again, we are forming a regional alliance,” Ferruccio said. “We’re in this together. She said data center development will have a “devastating impact” on the affected areas, from natural resources, tourism and recreation to water availability and increased electricity demand.
Vance County resident Hope Crabtree spoke about the need for county government leaders to be more responsive to citizens’ requests for information.
“We’re not asking for special treatment, we’re asking for responsible government,” Crabtree said. She further stated that the public should have the opportunity to request and receive information about proposed projects before decisions are made.
She said progress should not come at the expense of those who have to live with the consequences of development.
Other speakers included nearby resident Angie Thornton, retired biomedical researcher Hope Taylor and Vance County resident Christian Somerville.
Visit www.kerrregionalcitizenvoices.com to learn more about the group, its mission and how you can participate or email Info@kerrregionalcitizenvoices.com.
CLICK PLAY!
