Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Downtown Henderson

Town Talk 08/21/19: City of Henderson Names Walters Full-Time DDC Director

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

With the recent hiring of Kathy Walters as the full-time director of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission (DDC), the City of Henderson is one step closer to reestablishing its North Carolina Main Street Program status.

After eleven years of employment with the State of NC, Walters officially returns to the City of Henderson and the DDC on Monday, September 9.

For the past several years, the DDC director’s position has been funded on a part-time, contract-only basis, an arrangement that prevented Downtown Henderson, in part, from being reinstated in the Main Street Program.

“We are extremely delighted and fortunate to have Kathy on full-time with the DDC again,” said Board Chair Benny Finch. “She’s had about 10 years of experience working with the City and she’s very familiar with Downtown Henderson and the Main Street Program.”

A part of the Main Street Program from the mid-1980s until approximately 2010, a time that included Walters first tenure as director in the 90s, a lapse in the completion of requirements cost the downtown area the coveted distinction.

According to Finch, the benefits provided to a Main Street community are well worth the time and effort that the commission is investing in the three-year re-certification process.

“It is a three-year [overall] process and we are more than halfway there,” Finch said. “We expect to successfully complete all requirements by 2020. This will get us back into the Main Street Program which provides design expertise, as well as grant and networking opportunities.”

Citing her experience with maintaining Main Street status in the past, Finch said Walters was also instrumental in developing the Embassy Square area that now includes Perry Memorial Library, McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center and the Henderson Police Station.

In September 2017, Henderson was one of three NC towns selected by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center to receive up to three years of technical assistance for the recertification process.

Walters has already made it clear she is the right person for the job, according to Finch, as she has taken the initiative to meet with NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center director Liz Parham in Raleigh before her official day as DDC director even begins.

“We’re happy that Kathy has already taken the step to meet with Liz and to get the ball rolling on that part of the process,” Finch said.

In an email to WIZS, Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington echoed Finch’s sentiments:

“We are pleased to welcome Kathy Walters back to the City of Henderson as our new Downtown Development Director,” Ellington wrote. “In our current fiscal year city budget, we allotted funding to provide for a full-time downtown director. It is necessary to ensure a vibrant downtown and re-entry into the North Carolina Main Street Program now that we have this person in place. Kathy, with her experience, knowledge and passion for Henderson, was the ideal candidate and we are looking forward to a bright future while preserving our past.”

To hear further discussion on the hiring of Walters and the future of downtown, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Maria Parham Cancer Center to Offer Free Prostate Screening

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Maria Parham Health

The Maria Parham Cancer Center will offer a Free Prostate Screening event on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, from 5 until 7 p.m.

Enter through the main entrance of the hospital, 566 Ruin Creek Road in Henderson.

No appointments are necessary. For questions or more information, please call (252) 436-1605.

The American Cancer Society (ACS), among many other organizations, recommends an annual serum PSA testing and a
DRE starting by age 50 for men with a life expectancy of at least 10 years. Men at higher risk, such as those of African-American ancestry and those with a family history, should start screening at the age of 45.

Town Talk 08/20/19: Vipers Kick Off Friday Night Football With Game Against Bunn

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

It’s officially football season, and WIZS has you covered locally with “Vance County Friday Night Football” live every Friday evening on 1450AM, 100.1 FM, and via live stream at www.wizs.com. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m.; kickoff and play-by-play coverage begin at 7 p.m.

Also, be sure to tune-in to WIZS’ weekly Coach’s Corner Show each Friday at 1 p.m. This week, to kick off the season, the Coach’s Corner will originate live from Citizens Pub and Grill in downtown Henderson.

WIZS’ own John Charles Rose and Trey Snide were on Tuesday’s edition of Town Talk to provide an overview of the Vance County High School Vipers’ second overall athletic season and first season as part of the Big Eight 3A Conference.

Playing in their first game this Friday evening, August 23, 2019, the Vipers take on the Bunn Wildcats at home. The Vipers finished with a 4 – 7 record in their first season of play as a combined high school last year.

The first four games of the season are nonconference matches; conference play in the Big Eight 3A begins with a game against the Chapel Hill Tigers on September 27.

The final game of the regular season is scheduled at home against the Cedar Ridge Red Wolves on November 8.

The Vipers will also face the East Chapel Hill Wildcats, Southern Durham Spartans, Orange Panthers, Northern Durham Knights and Northwood Chargers in conference play.

Snide, who enters his third year covering Friday Night Football for WIZS, said Vipers Coach Darry Ragland is excited about this season, especially quarterback Samein Burwell.

“This is the first year Burwell has had a complete off-season and workout program,” said Snide. “In the sixth, seventh or eighth game of the regular season, that’s when Burwell finally had a full year under his belt under the brand new offense the Vipers were bringing with Coach Ragland.”

Snide said Ragland has expressed “excitement about Burwell’s potential” and hopes to improve on last year’s record of 1,800 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

On the Wildcats end, second-year Bunn Head Football Coach Bradley Murphy spoke with Snide and said the Vipers can expect his team to bring “hustle and effort” to Friday’s match.

“We are going to come and give our best effort and best hustle on and off the field,” Murphy said. “I tell my boys all the time if they give their best, I’ll be proud of them at the end of the game regardless of the final score.”

Snide said the outcome of this first game, along with additional nonconference games scheduled against the Warren County Eagles, J.F. Webb Warriors and Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets, will set the tone for the Viper’s season.

“We are going to see what this team is all about, especially in the first four games leading up to the Big Eight Conference. These are teams we should be able to handle pretty well if the offense and defense can play on the same playing field,” Snide said.

Snide and WIZS’ other “colorful” cast of Vance County Friday Night Football announcers are looking forward to rooting on the Vipers this season. In fact, Rose said he can document coverage of what is now known as Vance County Friday Night Football back to at least 50 of the station’s 64 years on the airwaves.

“None of this is about us, however,” said Rose. “This is about the school, this is about Vance County, this is about the listenership, but most important, this is about the student-athletes. WIZS cannot wait to highlight the student-athletes – the quarterbacks, the defensive players, as well as the coaches and assistant coaches.”

To hear the Vance County Friday Night Football Town Talk discussion in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

VGCC Holds Convocation, Recognizes Employees’ Years of Service

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information and photos courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College held Convocation on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the Main Campus in Henderson.

Faculty and staff with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service were recognized and are pictured below.

5 Years of Service (front row, seated, left to right) Dr. Erica Fleming, Julie Hicks, Erin Folz (second row, left to right) Leslie Hurt, Stacey Soles, Victoria Whited, April Rossi, Melanie Copeland, Faith Harris, Stephen Barney (third row, left to right) Stewart Lyon, Isaac Talley, Robert Newby, Gregory Wilson, Steven Graham, Luther Curtis, Wallace Evans, Ken Wilson, Mike Brodie.

10 Years of Service (front row, left to right) Frankie Frink, Veta Pierce-Cappetta, MaryBeth Vick (back row, left to right) Sean Newton, Lyndon Hall.

15 Years of Service (left to right) Rusty Pace, Dr. Tracey Carter, Lisa Edwards.

20 Years of Service (seated, left to right) Julie Jones, Wille Mae Foster-Hill, Jennifer Allen (standing) Craig Saunders.

25 Years of Service (left to right) Susan Cease, Donna Gill, Tomeka Carter.

30 Years of Service Larraine Abbott.

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist to Host Choir Day 2019

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Angela Crawford, Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church will host Choir Day 2019 on Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 3 p.m.

Performing choirs will be Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Senior Choir, Male Chorus, Junior Choir and Mass Choir. Guest choirs will also be performing on the program.

The Emcee for the program will be Deacon Sandra Waverly. The public is cordially invited to attend.

The church is located at 2464 Rock Mill Rd. in Henderson.

Salvation Army

Town Talk 08/19/19: Salvation Army Welcomes Derrick & Odessa Smith

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Vance County’s Salvation Army recently welcomed new leaders Lts. Derrick and Odessa Smith, a husband-and-wife team last stationed in Alamance County.

The Smiths take over for the recently retired Captain Rick Langley and wife Angie who headed the local Salvation Army operation since 2012.

Odessa, who has been a part of the Salvation Army since she was four years old, said it was her experience and love for the ministry that attracted husband Derrick, originally of Duplin County, to serve.

“I’ll be honest, when she first invited me, I thought we were having church at a thrift store,” Derrick recalled with a laugh. “I remember vividly going to the Salvation Army for the first time and the people just came around and loved me like I had been there for 20 years!”

The Smiths have arrived at a transitional time for the local ministry, specifically with the opening of a new facility and ball fields encompassing a 40-acre lot on Ross Mill Road in Henderson. The new building will be located near Mako Medical Laboratories and Vance Charter School.

According to Odessa, the facility is expected to be completed in mid to late October with a ribbon-cutting and building dedication ceremony to follow in November.

The new facility will allow for more space for what the Smiths have identified through studies to be one of the greatest needs of the community – youth services.

“One of the biggest needs is youth development,” explained Odessa. “We would like to have after-school programs, mentoring programs and partnerships with local schools and other community organizations.”

In an interview with WIZS prior to his retirement in June, Rick Langley stated that the new facility will include a community center, gym, full-size commercial kitchen and two ball fields – baseball and soccer.

In addition to hosting Salvation Army-related games, the ballfields will double as the home field of the neighboring Vance Charter School Knights.

While construction is underway on the new building, the Salvation Army will continue to operate from its 355 Alexander Avenue location in Henderson.

The former Salvation Army Store, located at 222 W. Montgomery Street in downtown Henderson, is currently used for storage and provides the space needed to organize larger donations such as furniture, according to Derrick.

The new Salvation Army Store, located at 218 Raleigh Road in Henderson, recently held a one-day anniversary sale on August 10.

“We both want to thank the community for showing up,” Derrick said. “We had folks lining up at 8 a.m. waiting for the sale to begin at 9 a.m. It was a very successful day.”

According to Derrick, one of the highlights of the day was talking to people and making them aware of just how much their purchases were helping the community. “I don’t think many people know this, but 85 cents of every dollar spent goes back to help people in this community.”

“We’ve already seen that we have a very generous community here,” said Derrick. “It helps us to fulfill the Salvation Army’s mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.”

To hear the Smiths’ Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

 

Is Your Small Business Prepared for a Disaster? Find Out at ‘Lunch Break to Educate’

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

The American Red Cross, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center invite you to attend “Lunch Break to Educate: Disaster Preparedness and Your Small Business.”

Sponsored by Joel T. Cheatham Insurance, the lunch session will be held at Henderson Fire Department (211 Dabney Drive) from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

According to the American Red Cross Ready Rating Program, as many as 40 percent of businesses fail following a disaster, and still, only 62 percent of small and medium-sized businesses have emergency plans in place.

This seminar will consist of a 15-20 minute Ready Rating presentation with question and answer segment. Ready Rating is a free, online American Red Cross program that allows businesses & organizations to either make an emergency preparedness plan or improve the one they already have.

All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property.

Whether you are taking your first steps or have a fully-functioning emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness. Learn how at this event.

Speaker(s): Kelly Ferrell, Disaster Program Specialist and Jayla Burwell, Disaster Program Intern.

The first 15 to register will receive free lunch; $10 after first 15.

Online registration is required by visiting https://www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=530390037.

VGCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration to Include Food Truck Rodeo, Live Music

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Vance-Granville Community College invites the public to join administrators, faculty, students and staff in a celebratory event, sponsored by Duke Energy, in honor of the college’s “50 Years of Excellence Since 1969.”

This “golden” anniversary celebration will include a food truck rodeo on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo of the Main Campus in Henderson (200 Community College Road).

The band “Liquid Pleasure” will also be entertaining the crowd with live music.

*Please note that alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited at VGCC. 

Concord Baptist Church in Kittrell to Hold Women’s Conference

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Shirley Hinton, Concord Missionary Baptist Church 

Concord Baptist Church, 810 Walter Grissom Road in Kittrell, will hold a Women’s Conference on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 10:15 a.m.

The theme will be “Women on a Mission for Christ – From Ashes to Beauty.” Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Presenters at the conference are Nakia Martin Wright and Shante Speed with Vance/Granville Health Department, Topic: Healthy Decision Making; Madeline Masters with Legal Aid of NC, Topic: Advance Directives (power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney and living wills); Crystal Smith with NC Cooperative Extension, Topic: Positive Self Image.

Christian Paylor with Franklin/Granville/Vance Smart Start will bring the conference to an end with some inspiring and motivational words for everyone.

This workshop is opened to all females (youth and adults). You are also invited to return on Sunday, September 8 at 10:45 a.m. for our Women’s Day Program with guest speaker Rev. Florence Vass from Spring Street Baptist Church.

Animal Services to Waive Adoption Fees for National Clear the Shelter Event

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Friends of Vance County Animal Shelter

The Vance County Animal Shelter is excited to announce that this year we will be participating in the National Clear the Shelter Event. This means for just one day, Saturday, August 17, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., our ADOPTION FEES WILL BE WAIVED!

All adoptions are first come first serve with an approved application, so go ahead and get your application in early.

All age appropriate dogs and puppies available for adoption on this day will be spayed/neutered, dewormed, and up-to-date on vaccines. They will also receive flea/tick treatment, a microchip and a heartworm test.

All age appropriate cats & kittens available for adoption on this day will be spayed/neutered, dewormed, and up-to-date on vaccines. They will also receive flea/tick treatment, a microchip and a FIV/FeLV test.

The Vance County Animal Shelter is located at 1243 Brodie Road in Henderson.