Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Rain Chance Didn’t Dampen Success Of Downtown Car Show

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Although the official economic impact has yet to be quantified, Vance  County Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Pam Hester has plenty of anecdotal evidence to show that last weekend’s Show, Shine, Shag and  Dine was a great success.

“The car show (was) fabulous,” Hester told WIZS News. She estimated that between 350 and 400 cars rolled into town to participate in the 19th annual event. Given the concern for COVID-19, plus the fact that there was a good chance of rain, she said she was pleased with the turnout.

This year should have been the 20th anniversary celebration, but COVID-19 put the brakes on last year’s event. Hester said she and her team of volunteers are already making plans to mark the anniversary in special ways for next year.

Attendance was slightly down, but she cited COVID-19 as a factor in that. Hester didn’t have an official estimate, and “it’s so hard to tell when it’s that many people” milling about downtown, she noted.

Hotels seemed to be pretty well booked on Saturday night, and she predicted that was the case for Friday as well. She fielded calls from New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Massachusetts and said that many cars were trailered in. “There were a lot of cars and people that I haven’t seen – lots of new places and new faces,” she said.

She noted that there were fewer vendors and food trucks, but she attributed that to COVID, too. “It’s hard to find help to run (main restaurants and food trucks), and that’s what the vendors were running into,” she said. The food vendors that were there, however, provided delicious food. “One guy sold out of everything he had on his truck,” she added.

A meeting is scheduled for next week to debrief the team of volunteers about what went well and what can be improved upon for next year, when the event turns 20.

Vance County Logo

Vance Water District Gets $4.4M In Grant, Loan Program For Improvement, Expansion

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The Vance County Water District is one of four in the state that will benefit from a federal program to help rural communities improve drinking water for its residents.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Vance County is set to get $1.6 million in loan and an additional $2.8 million in grant funds to build its Phase B waterline expansion project, according to a press statement from the USDA.

According to the statement, upgrades include installing 23 miles of water mains and expansion of the county’s coverage to 210 rural residents within the Kittrell township.

“Rural Development is providing much needed assistance to help rebuild these dated water systems in rural North Carolina,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight.
USDA water and environmental programs help rural communities obtain the financing and technical assistance necessary to develop, maintain and improve drinking water and waste disposal systems, Speight added.

The loan and grant program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.  It provides money for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water damage.

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program is awarding $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater across 37 states and Puerto Rico, affecting more than 270,000 residents.

‘Walk A Mile In Her Shoes’ To Honor, Remember Domestic Violence Victims, Survivors

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Infinite Possibilities Inc., a Henderson-based domestic violence and comprehensive support services agency, invites the public to “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” to support awareness of domestic violence.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the 2021 theme is #Every1KnowsSome1. The walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aycock Recreational Complex.

Erin Carter, a victim’s advocate at Infinite Possibilities, invites the public to join the walk to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in October 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues, while raising awareness for those issues.

In the past 30 years, there has been progress to support victims and survivors of domestic violence incidents, and strives to hold abusers accountable while creating and updating legislation.

Contact Bratanya Simmons 252.257.1044 or Carter at ehill@infinitepossibilitiesinc.com to learn more.

VCS Literacy Specialist Part of Statewide ‘Rethink Education’ Team To Promote Blended Instruction

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Vance County Schools has announced that Amber Hines, district K-5 literacy specialist, is a member of the first cohort of Rethink Education, a statewide initiative created to help teachers tailor blended instruction targeted at rural and under-resourced communities.

Made possible by $17.6 million from the U.S. Department of Education, Rethink Education provides training by facilitators like Hines to help educators design their instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners during short-term or long-term disruptions.

Hines, representing VCS, joins other educators from 50 other school districts, 28 charter schools and one lab school from across the state that make up the initial cohort of facilitators.

Their job will be to strengthen remote and in-person instruction with a blended model of delivery, and “reinvent school and community preparedness for new models of blended learning for grades K-8,” according to a press release from NC DPI.

As facilitators, they will serve to prepare teacher from across the state “to deliver high-quality instruction in a variety of settings and situations.”

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said the state must continue to build capacity and provide resources to meet the needs of students using blended instruction. “This dedicated group of educators will lead the way to ensure that no matter where learning takes place, our students are fully prepared for a globally competitive job market,” she stated.

BLET Cadets Provide Backup For Highway Litter Sweep

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Students in the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College had the opportunity recently to apply what they are learning about service by answering a call for help from fellow students.

VGCC’s Criminal Justice Technology curriculum program participates in the Adopt-a-Highway program and tend to a stretch of Poplar Creek Road near the college’s main campus. But this year, program head Andrea Hyson, asked Brandon Bishop, BLET director/instructor, for a little backup.

“I was quick to volunteer the BLET Academy class in order to help out,” Bishop said. It was a perfect opportunity to give the 17 cadets a tangible teaching and mentoring activity to help the community. The cadets are on the path to becoming well-trained and well-rounded law enforcement officers, Bishop said. But there’s more to being a law enforcement officer than just enforcing the law.

“We also share the responsibility of being leaders and caretakers within the communities we serve,” he said. “We, as a profession, need to be grounded in service to our communities and their specific needs, whether those needs are large or small. When these cadets graduate and become sworn officers in our communities, our intention is for them to have obtained a sense of responsibility. We want them to have a sense of ownership for creating change, growth and positivity.”

Hyson said she is very grateful for the help from instructor Tony Clark, Bishop and all the BLET cadets.

Contact Bishop at 252.492.2061, ext. 3263 or bishopb@vgcc.edu to learn more.

Colton’s Adventure Features Spaghetti Dinner, Silent Auction On Sept. 17

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The 4th annual Colton’s Adventure fundraiser is set for Friday, Sept. 17. Come out to Kerr Lake Country Club between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. for eat-in or take out, according to Kelsey Maddox, Colton’s mother.

They’ll be serving up a spaghetti meal, complete with salad, bread and dessert. Tickets are $9. Beverages are served for dine-in patrons.

There also will be a silent auction, so come prepared to browse the items available.

Maddox said plate delivery to businesses also is available.

All proceeds go to Colton’s direct medical care, she said.

Last year’s event sold out right at the stopping time, Maddox said, and they were able to purchase a special wheelchair called a Zip Zak.

This year’s goal is to sell 800 plates.

Colton was diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia, and his medical team is still searching for a genetic diagnosis, Maddox told WIZS News Friday.

“The diagnosis he was given is Chondrodysplasia Punctata Tibia Metacarpal type,” Maddox wrote in an email. “It is amazing the words that you learn when having a medical complex child,” she added.

In his short life, Colton has undergone 34 surgeries and endured countless hospital stays. This year alone he has been hospitalized several times – and he turned four years old during one hospital stay. He’s hospitalized now for RSV, she said.

He has been able to resume therapy sessions five days a week, which were put on pause last year during COVID-19 restrictions.

All told, Colton’s medical team consists of 21 physicians in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, as well as Wilmington, Delaware.

Maddox said about 40 items will be in the silent auction, including a UNC basketball autographed by Coach Roy Williams, a Texas Roadhouse gift basket that includes 2 free dinners every month for one year, and signed sports items from the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kerr Lake Country Club is located at 600 Hedrick Drive, Henderson, NC 27537.

Tobacco Research Referendum Vote Set For Nov. 18

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Vance County tobacco growers can cast their vote at the local cooperative extension office on the Tobacco Research Referendum, which will be held on Nov. 18, 2021.

Paul McKenzie, agriculture extension agent for Vance and Warren counties, explained the referendum in a written statement to WIZS News.

McKenzie said the referendum is being held to let tobacco growers decide if they wish to continue a self-assessment program that funds tobacco research.  This program, in place since 1991, was established by state law and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

A two-thirds favorable vote will mean that growers will continue to assess themselves to support tobacco research and education.  The assessment is 10 cents per 100 pounds of tobacco produced in North Carolina. The funds, about $250,000 annually, are collected at buying stations by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and then allocated by the Tobacco Research Commission for research and extension projects for tobacco at NC State University.

To learn more, call the Vance County Extension office at 252.438.8188.

H-V Industrial Park Phase III

Shell Building Project Continues Forward For Industrial Park

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Plans are moving along for construction of “shell” buildings at the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park to entice prospective businesses and industries to locate here, according to Henderson-Vance Economic Development Director Christian Lockamy.

Lockamy told WIZS News Wednesday that he briefed the Economic Development Commission Board at the July meeting, the first in-person meeting in over a year.

“They seemed to receive it well and ultimately voted unanimously to move it forward,” Lockamy said. Next steps include conducting research on potential construction partners and investigating financial models, building specs and, of course, cost.

The plan is to convene the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park Commission later in the summer to give the same presentation and work through some of the specifics left to be ironed out. Once he meets with that group, he said the proposal will go back to the commissioners as a formal recommendation. At that time, Lockamy said the process can move forward as a Request for Proposals is issued.

As part of the planning, the City of Henderson will be a co-applicant with the county on the Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant application for completion of sewer utilities and roads at the park. Similarly, the N.C. Department of Transportation will be a co-applicant because it will be responsible for future road maintenance.

Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon said, at the June Henderson City Council meeting, this is merely a formality required by the EDA.

“We should know if we are successful in obtaining the EDA grant later in the summer,” Lockamy explained. Having co-applicants sponsor the overall effort and providing additional information in the grant application hopefully will “tighten up the request and ensure all documentation is in place.”

Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Available in Downtown Henderson and Kittrell

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– courtesy of Vance County –

Vance County and the City of Henderson have partnered with Open Broadband to provide free public Wi-Fi in downtown Henderson. Service is available outdoors along Garnett Street from Rose Avenue to Orange Street. Service is also available surrounding the County Courthouse, City Hall, the Police Station, McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library. The network name is Open Henderson and can be accessed free of charge!

Additionally, Vance County has partnered with Open Broadband and has provided free public Wi-Fi in Kittrell. Service in Kittrell is available in the Dollar General, Kittrell Grocery, Shell Gas Station and Post Office parking lots along US 1 South. The network name is Open Kittrell and can be accessed free of charge!

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen

McMillen: Social Services Renovation “Coming Together Nicely” For A Late Summer Move-In

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Work to transform a former middle school into updated office space for the Vance County Department of Social Services is well underway, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said despite a couple of hiccups, the project is on budget and “coming together nicely.” Move-in dates have been pushed back until late July or August, he added.

Among McMillen’s comments and observations to WIZS News earlier this week, he noted that the renovation project at the former Eaton Johnson Middle School campus is wrapping up – “nearly all of the final finishing touches are currently being completed,” he said.

The flooring has been installed, painting is complete in all but one area, furniture has been installed and the building portion of the project will be nearing completion over the next few weeks, he predicted. The inside work on the building should be finished by mid- to late June – that’s only a couple of weeks behind schedule, he said.

“Contractors ran into unsuitable soils in the parking lot area which delayed most of the site work approximately two months,” McMillen said. Work on the parking lot has resumed after completion of soil testing from outside agencies and, barring weather delays, should be finished in mid- to late July.

Commissioners will hear at their meeting Monday about several change orders that will be recommended, all dealing with HVAC and minor modification in the part of the building that will house the Senior Center.

At this point, the project is about $231,000 under budget, so the change orders – totaling just more than $107,000 – could be absorbed without affecting the overall cost.