TownTalk: Garrison And Sossamon To Make Bid For NC House 32 Seat
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TownTalk: Local Sports Legend Eddie Hicks On Life, Football And Helping Youth
If it weren’t for folks who cared about a youngster growing up in Flint Hill all those years ago, Eddie Hicks’s future could have turned out quite differently.
That’s why Hicks does what he does to advocate for young people – he knows what it means to have someone on your side, whether it’s someone who gives you a place to stay when you need one, or whether it’s someone who offered you a part-time job at the local rec department. Hicks knows. And he remembers.
Hicks has a long relationship with the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks department – he’s closing in on five decades, in fact. “And I still love doing what I do,” he explained to John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk. Hicks recalled the days when, as a teenager, he and others helped keep the grounds cleared and mowed for the department. Fox Pond Park has a special place in his heart, because it’s where he did all his athletic training.
And now, the name of Edward James Hicks will be a permanent fixture at Fox Pond Park. HVRPD Director Kendrick Vann recently proposed to city officials that a picnic shelter be named in honor of Hicks.
“It really means everything to me – it really does,” Hicks said. “It brought tears to my eyes.”
He worked for parks and rec any time he came home, Hicks said. “A job was always there for me,” he said, noting the strong role then-director Ralph Peace played in his growing up.
Hicks’s father died right before Hicks was scheduled to head off to college, but both his parents had instilled in him values that helped carry him through tough times. He said football coaches Lonnie Davis and Tony Oakes helped him tremendously.
And then there was Hamlet Wilkerson, who opened his home to a teenaged Hicks and took him in. Hicks, and his brothers – he’s the youngest of three – got along fine outside the house, but not when they were all under the same roof. Wilkerson was a teacher at Hicks’s middle school and, although he has passed away, Hicks maintains close ties with the Wilkerson family.
“It takes a village to raise kids (in) this day and time,” Hicks said. Were it not for coaches and teachers and the values that his parents taught him, he said his life could have turned out very differently.
“I couldn’t have been successful (without them). wouldn’t be who I am right now if it were for (those) folks,” he said. There were so many people who loved Eddie Hicks back then, he said. “And I appreciate it.”
Those people who had a major impact on back then continue to influence Hicks today. His work with Melissa Elliott’s Gang Free organization is just one way he can give back to a community – his community – in need.
“So many folks have looked after me. And the Bible says pay it back ten times more,” he said.
For Hicks, football was a ticket to a brighter future. He played for legendary ECU Coach Pat Dye, who originally recruited him as a tight end. But Hicks was moved to running back, and that’s where he made his mark. There was one remarkable game against UNC, Hicks recalled. ECU was probably a 30-point underdog headed into Chapel Hill in 1975 to face the likes of #56 Lawrence Taylor. That 68-yard touchdown run that the freshman Hicks made was the start of a stellar career with the Pirates. It was a time #28 won’t soon forget. His three touchdowns in Chapel Hill propelled ECU to their first-ever win over the Tar Heels.
As Hicks recalled those glory days on the playing field, however, he cautioned young people just starting out in a sport – or any endeavor.
There’s no replacement for practice, hard work and paying your dues, he said. “If you don’t perform, you’re not going to play.”
Hard work and dedication on the playing field transfer to other areas, he said. The first priority is God, he said. “God’s gotta be first,” he said. Respecting parents comes next. “It really bothers me when kids don’t listen to their mama and daddy,” he said.
Today’s high school athletes have to keep their grades up in order to play their sports, and Hicks is all for that. “School didn’t excite me,” he acknowledged, and he had to keep an eye on schoolwork during the week so he could play on Fridays.
That effort got him to ECU, where he rushed for more than 2,100 yards during his four-year career. He still holds the school record for the longest rushing play – 95 yards. He was inducted into the ECU Hall of Fame in 2014.
ECU wasn’t a powerhouse football school in the late ‘70s, but Hicks wouldn’t trade his time there for anything. “If you want the opportunity to do great things, go to a small school and make a difference,” he said.
Hicks made a difference on the football field, and he continues to make a difference in his community.
As for his beloved Fox Pond, he said it looks better now than ever. People come out to enjoy the amenities, from tennis courts to fishing in the pond. Hicks said he still plays a little tennis himself, and he enjoys walking in the park.
“Mr. Vann has a good vision,” Hicks said. “He wants everything first class. We’re going in the right direction for Fox Pond Park to be bigger and better.”
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TownTalk: The Future Of Clean Energy And Electric Vehicles
Carbon footprints, fossil fuels and emissions reductions all are buzz phrases that are grabbing headlines these days and it can be dizzying to try to make sense of it all.
“Clean” transportation has nothing to do washing, waxing and detailing vehicles, as it turns out, and everything to do with types of fuels cars use and what gets released into the atmosphere.
Rick Sapienza is director of the clean transportation program of the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University. In his work, he drills down into the details of how to keep our air clean as we drive our vehicles for daily activities.
Beth Davis, regional engagement specialist with Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, is an education outreach partner that helps Sapienza spread the word about how to be good stewards and good drivers. Both were guests on Thursday’s Town Talk to discuss how consumers can contribute in a positive way to reduce fuel consumption and keep more money in their pocket versus pumping gas into the tank.
Not everyone can just go out and purchase a new electric vehicle, Davis noted. Sapienza offered a list of options that consumers can do.
Eat lunch in your car with the engine on? Your car is getting 0 miles per hour when it idles, he reminded. “The way you drive and maintain that vehicle affects its fuel economy,” he said. Speeding reduces fuel economy as well, and it would be good for drivers to map out their errands to cut down on unnecessary driving.
Programs in place across the state like Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) have paid off to improve air quality in the 16 years since its inception, Sapienza said. Funded through the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program, he said that all 100 counties in North Carolina now are in compliance with clean air standards.
As technologies continue to be developed, more and more fuel choices will be available.
According to Sapienza, compressed natural gas (CNG) is a renewable natural gas that is growing in popularity. The City of Raleigh’s buses run on it, and the majority of that type of transportation on the West Coast runs on it as well.
Other transportation agencies have turned to hydrogen to fuel their longer routes. “They perform like champs,” Sapienza said. There are two ways to use the hydrogen – either to produce electricity or combust it.
Davis said there are apps for smartphones to help drivers locate charging stations for their electric vehicles. Although some are free to use, drivers must pay a fee to plug in. Technology advances are making it easier for vehicles to travel farther before needing to recharge.
A common complaint with electric vehicles is the high cost of the battery, but Sapienza said the price has been steadily coming down.
Davis said she got to drive an electric vehicle during a recent demonstration and said it made her think about the possibility of an EV for her next vehicle.
“What really caught my attention was the low maintenance cost,” she said. “And also not having to buy so much gas.”
Sapienza said EV’s may cost more at purchase, but considering the total cost of ownership – like not paying for oil changes, transmission work, and other costs – the cost over the lifetime of the vehicle is lower. “Within 5-10 years, we’ll be at price parity cost on the vehicle,” he predicted.
Efforts to further reduce emissions and further electrify the region are ongoing, Sapienza said. “There’s a tremendous investment,” he said. Globally, $577 billion has been committed in both the public and private sector – $143 billion in the U.S. alone – to adopt technologies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Listen to the entire interview at wizs.com.
TownTalk: Oxford Is The Setting For Katherine Burnette’s First Book
Katherine Burnette has some tried-and-true advice for aspiring novelists: Treat it like another job and set aside some time to write every day, to help you stay in practice. That advice has served her well as she recently published her first book while keeping her “day job.”
Burnette lives in Oxford and is a district court judge in Raleigh. She serves the 9th District, which includes Granville, Vance, Franklin, Warren and Person counties. And she spoke with Bill Harris on Wednesday’s Town Talk about her debut novel, Judge’s Waltz.
The novel takes place in Oxford and in Raleigh, and Burnette said setting is important to her and her writing. “Living in Oxford and working in Raleigh – those places are very dear to me,” she said.
Her second novel, tentatively titled Killing Her Sharply, is set in Oxford and Henderson. It’s another crime story about detectives solving murders. She hasn’t had much time since March or so to work on the second book, but she is using this time to get feedback from some writers’ groups she is involved with, especially from the non-lawyers in the group.
It’s important for Burnette to strike that balance that creates compelling reading without getting too bogged down with legal terminology and processes that can make a book boring.
“It’s easy because I have been an attorney and know about some parts of the court system,” she explained, “but I don’t want it to be so technical that people say ‘No, I’m not going to read that.’”
Except for maybe a traffic violation or probate court when settling estates, the average person doesn’t have much experience with how a court operates. Burnette said she wants to give her readers a real sense of what’s involved inside a courtroom or courthouse, and said she draws on her own experiences to paint that picture.
But, she said, “I would say that 99 percent is created out of my head.”
In Judge’s Waltz, for example, a federal judge is found dead and local officials are called in because the FBI is busy. One investigator and her sergeant are in charge of the investigation, and what turns up about the unscrupulous judge’s demise creates a real whodunit.
The second novel has a few of the same characters that Burnette created in Judge’s Waltz.
“I wanted my characters to feel alive and have emotions and not be two-dimensional,” she said. That is part of the craft of writing – and Burnette stepped up her game to make sure she knew exactly how to do that.
“Studying the craft is an important thing to do,” she said. She obtained a master’s in creative writing “to make sure that when I got back into the novel, I could make it enjoyable.”
Elementary-school students are taught that good stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. And Burnette would agree with that part of the craft of writing.
“The middle part is the hardest,” she said. “You get excited about the beginning and know where (you) want it to end.” But developing the story line to get to the end – to keep the momentum going, is where it can get a little challenging.
In Judge’s Waltz, she said she tried to develop the story line threads so hopefully readers don’t guess who “did it” until the end of the book.
She hopes the second book will be out early next year. “I know where I’m going, but I need to get there,” she said of her writing process.
Purchase Judge’s Waltz in Oxford at This ‘n’ That in downtown Oxford, at the Regulator Bookstore in Durham and online where books are sold.
TownTalk: Iozzio Helps Veterans Through Outreach
Derrick Iozzio’s phone is always on, he says. Always. And that’s one of the things that sets him and his organization apart from other groups that provide services to military veterans and others in crisis.
Iozzio, a trained peer support mental health specialist and facilitator, founded Catch-22 Peer Support in response to what he saw as a growing need to address the suicide crisis, especially among veterans.
Guest co-host Phyllis Maynard teamed up with John C. Rose for Tuesday’s Town Talk program and they spoke with Iozzio about two nonprofit organizations he helped launch. In addition to Catch-22, he is the co-founder of Save Vets. Both groups have a presence online and on social media. https://catch-22-peer-support-llc.business.site/ and www.savevets.org.
An Army veteran himself, Iozzio said he works to bridge the gaps in services that are provided to veterans. Those “big organizations with big bank accounts” provide valuable resources to so many, but oftentimes, veterans need help outside the 9-5, Monday-Friday time frame.
Catch-22 offers peer support and a way to “interact with our heroes and to help them find resources to live the life they want to live,” he said.
A few months ago, his phone rang in the middle of the night. On the other end was a person in crisis. “It was a veteran who called with a pistol in his hand,” Iozzio said. “He didn’t have anyone to talk to.” Iozzio convinced him to put the gun away – and convinced him to seek help, which he did.
Quick to point out that he is not a licensed medical professional or crisis interventionist, Iozzio says simply, “I am there for people, if you need help.”
Catch-22 addresses what Iozzio said were shortcomings in the way veterans were able to access help in their communities and can provide a bridge in the gap of accessibility to resources.
It’s one way that he continues to provide “the best resources for my brother and sister veterans and for first responders,” he said.
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TownTalk: Tom Hannon Remembered
Daniel Thomas “Tom” Hannon III, 83, died Thursday at his home.
Hannon, a Henderson native, worked for Burlington Industries in several locations across the state before returning to his hometown to work for Rose’s Stores, Inc. He retired after almost 20 years of service with Rose’s, and then indulged his love of storytelling by working for several years with WIZS as a host of Town Talk and Sports Talk.
According to his wife, Anna, a memorial service will be held in the spring. In addition to his wife of 57 years, he is survived by three children, Daniel Thomas “Dan” Hannon, IV, Kathryn Lee Phillips and Robyn Watkins Hipp, and seven grandchildren.
John C. Rose remembered Hannon on Monday’s Town Talk program and shared memories of his time at the radio station as the two shared the studio for the daily call-in show. Rose said Hannon usually had with him a small Hardee’s cup filled with ice and diet Coke when he entered the radio station, a leftover from his earlier daily gathering of friends at the local restaurant.
The job, which was part time, resulted in Tom being at the radio station from 3 to 3.5 hours a day M-F.
“He had a way of carrying himself,” Rose said, a quality all-too-important for a local radio personality. He was opinionated, “but his opinion wasn’t based on what somebody else had said – it was based on what he thought,” Rose added.
“He was very confident about what he offered on the radio show, but he offered an opinion on the radio show that would generate calls.”
Those opinions were based on facts that Hannon recalled or on research he had done on the subject.
A favorite saying was “Often wrong, but never in doubt,” Rose said. Friend and former coworker Bill DiNicola said he sees that quote every day at his desk as well. DiNicola and Hannon hosted Sports Talk together between 2001 and 2005, and DiNicola recalled his friend as a “great role model” and “an example of a good person, a good man and a good citizen of his hometown.”
Folks may not have always agreed with Hannon and his opinions, but DiNicola said his friend always remained a gentleman.
“Without a doubt, there are certain people that come into your life and those people stay with you forever,” he told Rose during a call in to the show.
“They influence who you are and who you want to be.” For DiNicola, that man was Tom Hannon. “He was truly one of my most favorite people,” DiNicola said.
“On a near daily basis, Tom offered something that was extremely valuable…he was an ambassador for the radio station, both while he was on the air and in the community.”
Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Service. View the full obituary at jmwhitefuneralhome.com or on facebook.com/wizsradio.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 75, Henderson, NC 27536 or ACTS, P. O. Box 25, Henderson, NC 27536.
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TownTalk: Bishop Works To Help The Next Generation Of Law Enforcement Officers
Brandon Bishop wants to make sure that the cadets in the basic law enforcement training classes he oversees understand some key concepts about what it means to be a police officer.
Bishop wants the officers-in-training to have the communication tools they need in order to avoid having to use a weapon or other means of force when they’re on duty.
As director of Basic Law Enforcement Training and Law Enforcement Training at Vance-Granville Community College, he brings the experience of almost two decades in uniform with the Henderson Police Department. He was a lieutenant for six years and he holds a degree in social work.
Bishop is implementing some of those “soft” skills into the BLET classes, including courses like “Duty to Intercede,” “Surviving Verbal Conflict,” and “Facilitating Mental Health Training.”
He described the program on Tuesday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and said tomorrow’s law enforcement officers must be able to interact with citizens – it’s important to be able to talk to people, get to know them and understand them. Basic communication skills are a must-have to achieve the goal, he said.
Most folks who pursue law enforcement as a career are service-oriented people, he said. Helping people and helping to make a difference in their communities are just part of a profession that provides “the integrity and status they’re looking for,” Bishop said.
Obviously, police officers are charged with enforcing the law, but through effective communication, law enforcement officers also can help people make good choices.
(VGCC PHOTO) – VGCC Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 112 graduates included, in front (from left), Jose Angel Deleon and Jennifer Quick; and in back (from left), Reed Danehy, Kameron Gregory, Regina Andranowska and LeDrevion Richardson; not pictured: Kaleb Evans
“We try to get them to understand that we all need to get along,” Bishop said. “The best way to do that is to help each other through our problems. I try to teach our cadets that we’re more there to help people solve their problems than to solve them for them.”
It’s not all theory and lecture in the program, Bishop said. The cadets use a firearms simulator, which he describes as a giant, 3-D video game, that trains cadets and agency officers in the use of force options. It’s a way to reinforce what they’ve learned in the classroom about communication, which can de-escalate a situation before it gets out of hand. The goal is “to alleviate our use of force incidents and injury to officers and others they are dealing with,” Bishop said. It gives cadets a chance to see exactly what they may face on the street.
Similarly, a driver training simulator allows for cadets and experienced officers as well the chance to get initial training or a refresher on driving vehicles to avoid obstacles all the way to driving in pursuit or other emergency situations. “It’s as close to real-life situations as possible, without the inherent dangers,” Bishop said.
During his time with the Henderson department, he was primarily assigned to the patrol division. He also was a supervisor for the Street Crime unit and the interdiction team and spent 15 years on the department’s tactical team – a team he helped to create and on which he worked all positions, including team commander.
And now, he’s helping guide cadets and prepare the next generation of law enforcement officers to deal effectively with the communities they will serve and protect.
“It’s a challenging career, but it’s a rewarding career,” he said.
The next class is scheduled to begin Jan. 18, 2022 and will wrap up in mid-May. Interested in learning more? Contact Bishop at bishopb@vgcc.edu or phone 919.738.3263. Visit www.vgcc.edu to see more about the BLET program.
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TownTalk: Monahan Talks Nuts, Chips And Popcorn
Snack lovers have an opportunity to grab a new brand of peanut from a couple with a long history in the industry.
Carol and John Monahan have launched 1949 Nut Co. and are teaming up with their son, Josh, and his 1in6 Snacks to get their yummy treats into the hands – and tummies – of peanut fans everywhere.
Carol Monahan talked with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk and said she and husband John are enjoying working for – and with – their son.
The 1949 Nut Co. will have a pop-up sale on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Josh’s 1in6 Snacks’ distribution center at 2725 Raleigh Road.
Featured will be the peanuts and popcorn, both of which come in a variety of flavors – from traditional and tame to wild and zesty, she said. The weekly pop-up store will continue on Wednesdays through Christmas at the Raleigh Road distribution center.
“Our family is super excited to continue our relationship with folks here in Vance County,” Carol Monahan said. She and her husband brought The Peanut Roaster to Henderson back in 1995, and the recent sale left them with some time on their hands. So they launched The 1949 Nut Co. as a nod to John’s father, Larry “Daddy-O” Monahan.
He’s the one who, in 1949, started cooking Virginia peanuts at his Wakefield, VA restaurant. But because he first soaked them in water, they didn’t absorb the oil they were fried in. They’re using the same technique to create these peanuts, she said. “Folks just love it, and we’re glad that they do.”
The popcorn gift packs feature five flavors – butter, cinnamon, dill pickle, Buffalo and light and fit – and will be available at the Wednesday pop-up event, she said.
If you’ve ever purchased the Carolina Kettle brand of potato chip, you’ve purchased a product created by Josh Monahan. He was a junior studying agriculture at N.C. State University when he learned that one in six people didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. The 2017 N.C. State graduate donates money to the Food Bank of North Carolina for every bag sold – a nickel for a small bag and a dime for a large bag, his mom said. So far, that number is $150,000. And climbing. He’s one of the food bank’s largest donors.
Josh grew up in the peanut industry, helping his parents after school and during the summer. “He wanted to stay in that (ag) field,” she said, “but he wanted to look around and see what was going on around him.” He also wanted to make a difference, she said. And 1in6 Snacks was born. The chips came first, followed by Pine State Popcorn. There are other products in the 1in6 line, but the pop-up store will concentrate on the peanuts and popcorn.
She and her husband are “very, very proud” of their son’s success thus far. And when they ended their association with The Peanut Roaster back in July, they decided that they would put their product line under the 1in6 umbrella.
“We’re putting a great local product out here in Vance County and the surrounding area,” she said. One can of peanuts at the time.
Visit 1949nut.com.
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TownTalk: Fixing Economic Development
Broken economic development past for Henderson-Vance and the new life that could be … plus politics.
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TownTalk: Holiday Happenings In Granville County
‘Tis the season for Christmas parades, chats with Santa, and holiday shopping. Granville County is gearing up for events all across the county, and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen said there’s something for everyone, from Creedmoor to Grassy Creek and everywhere in between.
Allen spoke with John C. Rose and Bill Harris on Wednesday’s Town Talk and rattled off a list of events sure to keep folks entertained while getting into the Christmas spirit.
Here’s a rundown of activities and events:
- Nov. 19-20 – 12 noon to 6 p.m. – The Barn at Vino will host Jimbo’s Fall Backyard Barbecue Competition fundraiser to benefit Wreaths Across America. The competition features 25 teams that will be vying for top honors in grilling chicken, ribs and more. Visit The Barn at Vino’s Facebook page or Eventbrite page to register to be a people’s choice judge. There will be music and entertainment throughout the day.
- Harvest, a farm-to-table restaurant in Oxford, is taking orders for Thanksgiving. From whole meals to individual items to take home and bake or to reheat, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page or find it on Instagram to place orders by Nov. 19
- Strong Arm Baking in downtown Oxford is taking orders through this weekend for pickup next week or arrange for a porch drop.
- Saturday, Nov. 20 – Falls Lake Academy vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 20 – Carolina Cotton in downtown Creedmoor will host a holiday Sip and Shop. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drinks, snacks, door busters and door prizes offered.
- Friday, Dec. 3 – Lighting of the Greens in Oxford at 6:45 p.m. followed by Oxford Christmas parade at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 3 – Christmas in the Park, town of Butner. Children can visit with Santa from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Christmas music will follow and the town’s Christmas tree will be officially lighted at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. Butner Christmas parade
- Friday, Dec. 3 – City of Creedmoor’s tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. at the new community center. Student choirs will be performing and Santa will drop by.
- Saturday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. – Creedmoor Christmas parade
- Sunday, Dec. 5 – The Barn at Vino will host “Cocoa with Santa” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children will get a chance to take a photo with Santa, decorate Christmas cookies and more during this 4th annual event. Additional vendors will be on hand to add some holiday shopping opportunities.
- Saturday, Dec. 11 – Carlee Farms Holiday Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa and his elves will be at the market, along with more than 30 vendors in this fundraiser event to benefit the Stem Volunteer Fire Department and EMS. A silent auction and a toy drive are just some of the activities.
- Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. – Grassy Creek Christmas parade
- Dec. 11 – 13 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Delrayno Baptist Church’s annual live nativity called “Back to Bethlehem.” There is no cost to participate, but donations are accepted. Enter from Delacroix Street across from Granville Medical Center to begin the drive-through event.
- Saturday, Dec. 11 – The Orpheum in downtown Oxford is having a holiday gala to benefit the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. Black tie and fancy dress is encourage for this event; a noted mixologist will be on hand to craft cocktails for this event.
- During the month of December, the Oxford Arts Center is having several classes for participants to create holiday décor. Visit their Facebook page and the Eventbrite page to learn more and to register.
The website visitgranvillenc.com has details about these events and more.