Tag Archive for: #thelocalskinny

The Local Skinny! Archie Taylor Receives Order Of The Long Leaf Pine

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Vance County Commissioner Col. Archie Taylor has received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor that a North Carolina governor can award to an individual for contributions to the state and to his or her local community.

Rep. Frank Sossamon delivered remarks – and a framed certificate – to Taylor during a recent commissioners meeting.

Sossamon cited Taylor’s 28 years of military service and said that career “speaks volumes about his commitment to duty and leadership.”

That service, along with his service since 2012 on the local board of commissioners and other civic and service organizations, sets Taylor apart. Taylor lost a close primary race in March and will leave the board in December.

“His longstanding involvement in economic development initiatives…his strategic vision and proactive approach have played a pivotal role in promoting Vance County, both locally and beyond,” Sossamon said.

Over the years, Taylor has been an ardent supporter of education, the arts, the Boy Scouts. Maria Parham Health, Rotary, his church, just to list a few.

He was named Vance County Citizen of the Year in 2021 and also received the George R. Watkins Citizen of the Year from the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts.

In brief remarks after the presentation, Taylor expressed his surprise and thanks for the honor.

He said he has a plaque on his wall with a quote attributed to Robert F. Kennedy which states “’One man can make a difference and every man should try.’ That’s all I’ve tried to do – make a difference everywhere I’ve been,” he said.

He invited others to join him. “Our county gets better as more and more people get involved.”

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Early In-Person Voting Begins Thursday, Oct. 17

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Early in-person voting begins this Thursday, Oct. 17 in North Carolina. Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles reviews some basic information for voters who wish to cast their ballots before the Nov. 5 Election Day.

There are two polling sites in Vance County for the early in-person voting — Aycock Recreational Complex, 305 Carey Chapel Rd. and the former Eaton Johnson gym, 500 N. Beckford Dr.

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they vote, but all voters will be allowed to vote with or without ID. Voters who lack ID can get one for free from their county board of elections. Find out more at ncsbe.gov/voter-id.

Early voting continues on weekdays through Nov. 1. Both in-person polling sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The final day of early voting is Saturday, Nov. 2 and the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that day.

Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. A voter can fill out an absentee ballot request at votebymail.ncsbe.gov or may complete a request form provided by the board of elections.

Although the voter registration deadline has passed, eligible individuals who did not register by the Oct. 11 deadline may register and vote at either early voting site during the early voting period. New registrants will be required to provide documentation of their residence.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the Vance County Board of Elections Office at 252.492.3730.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Saturdays 8am-1pm
  • Vermiculture and Vermicomposting with Earthworms Workshop taking place on Monday, November 4th, starting at 6:30pm, led by Wayne Rowland. It will be at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • We might get a touch of frost. You need to prepare your frost protection now.
  • Now is the time to drain your sprayers or any irrigation pumps that you are not going to use until next spring.
  • Now is a good time to plant your mums and pansies.
  • Store things that you aren’t going to use until next spring. Such as your maintenance equipment.
  • Check your crops for insects.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Fall Festival At Perry Memorial Library

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Perry Memorial Library is getting ready for its fall festival, and Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters said there will be something for everyone to enjoy, including carnival games and more.

The festival will be Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the weather forecast is calling for perfect autumn weather, with sunny skies and temps in the 60s.

But, Peters said, you always have to have a Plan B. This event will be rain or shine, she said. And in the off chance that the weather doesn’t cooperate to have the fall festival outside, they’ll simply move the activities inside.

Kids, make sure you tell your parents to stick around after the festival, because that’s when the Trunk or Treat takes place.

Peters said last year’s Trunk or Treat was a big success. “This year, we want to do it bigger and better,” she said.

Community partners and library staff are teaming up for another fun Trunk or Treat and will have their vehicle trunks all decorated and ready with treats to distribute to the youngsters who stop by on their way from the fall festival.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn about all the programs and services offered. The library is located at 205 Breckenridge St.

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The Local Skinny! Brick Power Team Weightlifting Event Coming Up

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The Brick Power Team is hosting a “Beast On The Bench” power lifting meet next month, and it’s power lifting with a purpose – raising money to help two local women who have helped so many in the community.

Harry Orr, executive director of the Brick Power Team, said every penny raised at the Oct. 26 meet will be given to Sara Coffey and Marsha Ranes, both of whom are facing health challenges.

The meet will be held at the Brick, located beside Freedom Life Church of God, 1001 Martin Creek Rd., Henderson.

“They’re real dear to me and to a whole lot (of others) in the community,” Orr said recently.

Both Coffey and Ranes have helped him with everything he’s ever done, Orr said, so it’s only fitting that he and his organization offer help in return.

“One hundred percent of what we take in, we will split up” to donate to the two women as they battle health challenges. “We don’t keep any of it,” he said, but added that he has begun to give the church 10 percent because of its faithfulness to the ministry that does so much good in the community. “The church is always behind us,” Orr said.

In fact, Coffey herself was among the 2022 class inducted into the North Carolina State Strength Sports Hall of Fame for the support she’s provided over the years to the sport.

At one time, he said, power lifting was a big sport, and there’s a renewed interest lately among participants and those who just enjoy watching.

“It’s kind of building back up,” Orr said of local enthusiasm for the sport. “We’re getting more and more lifters each time we put (an event) on,” he said. “We’ve got them coming back in – it’s building up real good.”

Entry fees are $50 for adults and $40 for teens. Spectators pay $5, and children 12 and under get in free.

Contact Orr at 252.432.4196 or by email at horr2553@yahoo.com to get registered and to learn details about the different classes and age brackets for the meet.

Weigh-ins will be held Friday, Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Rules will be reviewed at 9:15 a.m. and the meet will begin at 10 a.m.

Trophies will be awarded for first and second place.

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The Local Skinny! Jayden Watkins And ‘Higher is Waiting’

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Jayden Watkins the student is on fall break this week, which gives Jayden Watkins the part-time radio guy some extra daytime hours at WIZS. And maybe, just maybe, it gives Jayden Watkins the founder of the nonprofit “Higher Is Waiting” a little time to devote to his developing organization.

At age 16, the junior at Henderson Collegiate said he had gotten a little pushback from folks who didn’t think he could get the nonprofit off the ground. “I did not listen to those naysayers,” he said.

With a mission “to educate, equip, and empower individuals to live according to their life’s purpose by providing necessary resources and faith-based events,” Higher Is Waiting has a youth Bible Study group and provides food, clothing and other supplies to area agencies that serve needy populations.

The “Empowered” teen Bible study has 130 members who range in age from 13-19. Their monthly meetings include mentorship opportunities and learning life skills, Watkins said. They also do service projects in the community.

“I’m thankful to God and thankful for donations,” he said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Like many an entrepreneur and nonprofit founder, Watkins said his biggest challenge right now is financing to provide food, winter clothing and more. The youth have created more than 300 “Blessing Bags” filled with toiletry essentials, nonperishable foods and more that have been distributed to shelters and other places that serve needy populations.

He’s done interviews with a couple of local TV stations, which come to town when there’s something going on that casts Henderson in a negative light.

“Let’s highlight something positive,” Watkins said. “There are some positive, world-changing young people in Henderson, North Carolina.”

An upcoming event that Watkins is organizing is called “Young Voices for Change,” which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Perry Memorial Library. It’s a chance for young people to speak for up to five minutes on an issue they’re concerned about – from gun violence and self-esteem to substance use among youth in the community. Local officials will be on hand to listen and learn, Watkins said, and “to hear the concerns of our youth…in a good, welcoming, positive environment.”

Call Watkins at 252.425.0354 to learn ways to help Higher Is Waiting.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Farmer’s Market
  • Bee Keeper’s Meeting
  • Soil samples
  • Fire ants
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Weed and pest control 

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The Local Skinny! Gun Safety And Children Next Forum Topic Hosted By Rep. Frank Sossamon

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Rep. Frank Sossamon is hosting forums to underscore the need for gun safety, especially as it pertains to children.

The evening forums are designed to share information about gun safety with families. Representatives from the N.C. Dept. of Public Safety and the Center for Safer Schools, along with others, will be on hand during the events, according to information from Sossamon’s office.

The Granville County forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Northern Granville Middle School, 3144 Webb School Rd, Oxford.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 10, the Vance County forum will be held at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, 1600 S. Garnett St., Henderson. That forum also runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The forums are free and open to the public.

 

Cooperative Extension With Wayne Rowland: Mites

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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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The Local Skinny! Vacant County Director Roles Now Filled

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Back in February, Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry was just a few months into her new job. On top of gearing up to prepare the county’s annual budget and getting up to speed on some of the unique challenges and opportunities across the county she was now responsible for, Perry also faced having to fill a good handful of county positions, including five directors of departments.

Perry turned a negative into a positive at the time, and said back in February that she chose to see the vacancies as a chance for her to build her own leadership team.

When Vance County announced Tuesday that it had selected a new Social Services Director, that “team” is officially complete.

Sandy Weaver began her new role as DSS director effective Oct. 1, as did Jeremy T. Jones as assistanc county manager.

And Perry won’t celebrate her first anniversary as county manager until Nov. 1.

One by one, the vacancies have been filled:

·       Budget and Finance director – Stephanie Williams;

·       Animal Services manager – William Coker;

·       Planning director – Sherry Moss;

·       Elections director- Haley Rawles;

·       Economic Development director – Ferdinand A. Rouse;

·       DSS director – Sandy Weaver

·       Chief Code Enforcement Officer – Bob Rosch

The code enforcement office is located in the same office as planning, but it will function as a separate department with Rosch as the department head, county staff noted.