Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

HV Chamber Of Commerce Member Spotlight: Vance County Historical Society

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce recognized the Vance County Historical Society as its most recent Member Spotlight recipient.

Representing the group at the recent presentation was Vice President Tem Blackburn, a dedicated leader and local historian who is widely recognized for his commitment to documenting and interpreting Vance County’s past.

Blackburn continues to play a key role in historical preservation efforts, public history projects and community programs that highlight the people, places, and events that have shaped our county. The Vance County Historical Society continues to inspire appreciation for local history while fostering a stronger connection between the community and its heritage. Stop by the second floor of Perry Memorial Library located at 205 Breckenridge St. to experience its impressive collection of historical artifacts.

County’s Initial Community Town Hall Session Set For July 29

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The first in a series of Community Town Hall sessions will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at Bearpond Fire Department.

The event, hosted by District 4 Commissioner Dan Brummitt, will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Bearpond Fire Department is located at 285 Bearpond Road.

Residents from across the county are welcome; it’s not just for District 4 residents.

Among topics to be discussed include public safety, economic development, infrastructure and water projects, county services and community priorities.

Similar programs are being planned in the county’s other districts.

(Note: The following information was added to this post on 7-28-26)

PUBLIC NOTICE
To: Press and Members of the Public
From: Dywanda Pettaway, Clerk to the Board, DP
Date: July 27, 2026
Re: Notice of Potential Quorum

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT Members of the Vance County Board of Commissioners will attend Town Hall #1 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bear Pond Volunteer Fire Department, located at 325 Bearpond Road, Henderson, NC 27537.

This event is open to the public. A quorum of the Vance County Board of Commissioners may be present; however, no official business will be conducted, and no action will be taken by the Board of County Commissioners.

This notice is provided in accordance with North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law.

For additional information, please contact the Vance County Clerk to the Board’s Office at (252) 738-2003, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

VCS ‘Back to School Bash’ July 30 At VCMS Stadium From 3 PM – 6:30 PM

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Vance County Schools families and students are invited to a “Back to School Bash” on Thursday, July 30 to get ready for the start of the

2026-27 school year. Come out to the stadium at Vance County Middle School between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to join in the fun as summer schedules wind down and a new school year approaches.

The first day of school is right around the corner – Monday, Aug. 10 – for students at E.M. Rollins, Vance County High School and Vance County Early College.

Schools on the traditional calendar will begin classes on Monday, Aug. 24.

But whichever day school begins for your family, next week’s back-to-school community event will help you start the school year strong with the information, activities and resources you need, said VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin.

More than 70 vendors will be on hand during the back-to-school event.

In case of rain, the event will be moved inside the middle school, Sandlin said.

E.M. Rollins, Vance County High and Vance County Early College will have an open house on Thursday Aug. 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All traditional-calendar schools will have their open houses on Thursday, Aug. 20 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stay up-to-date on school news and events at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office Investigating July 19 Shooting Death Of Local Man

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Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On July 19, 2026, at approximately 02:24 a.m., deputies with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department responded to 1827 S. Clearview Dr. Henderson, North Carolina, in reference to a report of gunshot victim.

Upon arrival, deputies located 38-year-old Thelonis Devon Perry of Henderson, North Carolina, suffering from apparent gunshot wound. Vance County EMS/First Responders arrived on the scene to render aid, Perry was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit is assisting the Vance County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile application.

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TownTalk: Vance County Water District Offers Debt Forgiveness Program For Eligible Customers

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The Vance County Water District has a forgiveness program in place in an effort to help residents with outstanding balances erase that debt and tap on to the water line.

Enterprise Fund and Special Projects Director Frankie Nobles said the water bill forgiveness program will erase 75 percent of the customer’s outstanding balance.

“We’re trying to help some customers that want water but they haven’t paid their $30 a month fees like they should have,” Nobles said.

These customers started the process to tap into the water line once it was available, and that’s when they began receiving that monthly $30 accessibility fee.

For whatever reason, there are customers who didn’t complete the process to tap into the water line, but they kept accumulating the monthly accessibility fee.

Now – several years later, in some cases – customers find themselves with outstanding balances.

Nobles said customers who are interested in completing the process to tap into the county water line can pay 25 percent of what they owe and they’ll be connected.

The offer will be in effect through March 2027.

The county also has slashed the normal $1,795 tap fee down to $125, which will remain in place until the current water expansion project in Kittrell is completed. Nobles said should be in mid-September 2026.

The Kittrell expansion is the fifth phase the county has undertaken to try to get more water throughout the county. Nobles said more than 23.6 miles of water line is involved. A final total won’t be available until the project is completed, he added, but the price tag is more than $10 million.

“We’re getting there,” he said. “It just takes a while to get it done because of the cost.”

Nobles said the county initially loses money, but added that as more customers come on line, the county can make that money back. “That’s what we’re trying to do, add customers to our system and that really helps cover all of our costs.”

He gets calls each week from residents who have problems with their wells and ask about county access to provide clean drinking water.

“We want to be able to help the citizens in the community that do want water and (who) are having issues with their well,” he said. “We want to help as much as we can.”

The county contracts with Envirolink to handle repairs, leaks, and meter installation. Contact Envirolink at 252.235.4900 or toll-free at 888.754.9878 to learn more. The email is customerservice@envirolinkinc.com

Nobles said he also is available to try to help answer residents’ questions. Contact him at 252.738.2005.

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(The above audio and text originated on WIZS May 20, 2026.)
NC Dept of Agriculture

Nominations For State Fair 2026 ‘Farm Family Of The Day’ Program Open Through Aug. 21

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— Information courtesy of the N.C. State Fair office

 

The N.C. State Fair will recognize 11 farm families during the fair this year through the Farm Family of the Day program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. Nominations and applications are being accepted now through Aug. 21. If you are a proud N.C. farmer who works hard to contribute to our state’s No. 1 industry, and loves both farming and the N.C. State Fair, your family could be one of the lucky ones selected to represent the industry at the fair.

“This is the sixth year we have honored farm families with the Farm Family of the Day program at the N.C. State Fair,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Helping people make the connection between farming and the food that they enjoy is one of our top missions at the N.C. State Fair each year. Thanks to Tractor Supply Company, we can help tell the story of our farmers because they are the individuals out there every day working to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we need to survive.”

Families recognized as Farm Family of the Day will be honored across the grounds on their assigned day, as well as awarded an N.C. State Fair gift basket, including fair tickets to use on any day of their choice during the 2026 N.C. State Fair, ride passes and additional swag from both Tractor Supply Company and the N.C. State Fair.

Families will be chosen by both nomination and application forms. Applications can be found online at https://www.ncagr.gov/2026-farm-family-day-application-form/open or nomination forms can be found online at https://www.ncagr.gov/2026-farm-family-day-nomination-form/open.

The 2026 N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 15-25 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina for all who attend, and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights.

To learn more, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

 

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Nathaniel Macon

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Some may say that the area known as Old Granville County can lay claim to having the original “Senator ‘No’” among its residents, more than a century before the longtime TV editorialist-turned politician Jesse Helms was known by the dubious nickname.

That man – Nathaniel Macon – was perhaps the foremost public figure from North Carolina in the early 19th century said WIZS’s Bill Harris. Bill and local historian Mark Pace recounted stories about Macon and his rise to prominence in the political arena in the 1800’s on Thursday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk.

“He might have been the most important and significant North Carolinian in his time and his day,” Pace said. “He personified North Carolina.” The North Carolina of that time, anyway. Which meant that he was a staunch conservative who didn’t believe the government had any business doing much of anything that interfered with individual rights and private industry.

His ideas aligned more with those of Thomas Jefferson, who was a champion of individual liberty and states’ rights and talked up the virtues and the lifestyles of landowners.

Macon was a 24-year-old serving in the New Jersey militia during the American Revolution when he got word that he’d been elected to the State Senate. That set him on a career path that spanned close to four decades and sent him to Washington, D.C.

He was in the State Senate from 1781 to 1785, and then was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1791. He served there until 1815 and was elected Speaker of the House and served for six years – from 1801 to 1807.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate and served from 1815 to 1828, including seven years President pro tem from 1825 to 1827.

Over the years, he said ‘no’ to cabinet posts, appointments and even re-entered military service in 1780 as a private instead of accepting a higher rank that could have been his for the taking.

He didn’t like making government appropriations and didn’t think government had any business in private industry.

Despite his penchant for saying ‘no,’ however, Pace said Macon’s oratory skills and ability to compromise served Macon the politician well.

“You always knew where you stood with him,” Pace said. “He was a personable guy. It was  hard not to like him.”

Macon retired to his home in present-day Warren County – Buck Spring – in 1828, following his storied career in the House and the Senate.

But the home was nothing fancy, no columns across the front or sprawling staircases inside.

No, in keeping with his humble, no-frills ideas, Macon instead lived in what amounted to a one-room house that contained few possessions other than books.

Although the original Buck Spring home was partially burned about 40 years ago, Pace said some parts were salvageable and the reconstructed home currently is part of a park in the Littleton area.

The project received some federal funds to complete, an appropriation Macon himself most likely would have frowned upon.

 

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Water Line Extension Promotes Economic Growth For Henderson-Oxford Airport, Regional Presence

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With the sound of small aircraft in the background and a corporate jet parked nearby, local officials gathered Monday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a water line extension project at the Henderson-Oxford Airport.

Or, to borrow Airport Manager Amanda Welsh’s term: Hotel November Zulu. HNZ – the airport’s official 3-letter code.

Welsh and husband Chris established flyHNZ in 2018 and are the fixed-based operators at the local airport situated in Granville County near the Vance County line. The couple, along with Chris’s father, handled everything at first, but Welsh told those gathered at the airport to officially kick off the $1 million-plus project on Monday that it now takes a full-time staff of 8 to manage the operation.

Granville County Economic Development Director Charla Duncan said although project involves less than a mile of water line, it represents a critical infrastructure investment that is needed to keep up with growth and support economic development.

The whirr of plane engines at times drowned out speakers at the podium, but as Golden Leaf Foundation representative Scott Hamilton noted, “That’s the sound of money.”

The airport got a $600,000 grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation for the project to go along with the initial state appropriation of $500,000 that then-N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon was instrumental in securing. But the airport authority learned pretty early in the process that it would need at least that much again, if not more, to see the project to completion.

Granville County Commissioner Rob Williford represents District 2, where the airport is situated. He told those in attendance that he learned a lot about the airport from Airport Board Vice Chair Jon Carver, who painted a rosy picture for the future of an airport with appropriate infrastructure.

To see growth, there needed to be infrastructure, Williford said. For the airport to grow and be able to provide hangar space for corporate jets, there needed to be adequate fire suppression. And that meant having public water.

Williford, a Democrat, said he and fellow commissioner Russ May, a Republican, worked together across the aisles of the legislature to seek additional funds. “We went to see them all together,” Williford said, referring to state legislators of both parties. “They all listened. They all understood. And they all said, ‘We can’t get you the money.’”

But the Granville County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to provide up to $300,000 for the project and then the Golden Leaf grant came through, so the project is set to begin.

With dozens on the wait list for hangar space, Duncan said there’s a focus on promoting the concept of a regional airport.

She said as RDU looks to move away from general aviation services, HNZ could be a good option for businesses and individuals for hangar space,  flight training and more.

“We want to be able to say that our transportation facilities – whether it be highways or whether it be general aviation resources – can compete with the Piedmont Triad, with the Sandhills as well,” Duncan said.

Welsh said the aviation industry continues to grow, but there’s a pilot shortage and a support personnel shortage.

And flyHNZ is poised to train and bring up the next generation of aviation professionals.

“Once the water service is in place, our business in and of itself hopes to add additional services,” she said, from flight school and training options to the heavier restoration of older aircraft.

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Maria Parham Aug. 13 Lunch & Learn Focuses On Shoulder Health, Injury Prevention, Treatment Options

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Maria Parham Health invites community members to attend a free Lunch & Learn on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, featuring board-certified orthopedic surgeon Damian Rispoli, MD. The educational event will take place from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium on the Maria Parham Health campus.

The presentation “Strong Shoulders. Stronger You.” will focus on the prevention, detection and treatment of common shoulder injuries and conditions. Attendees will gain practical information on maintaining shoulder health, recognizing early signs of injury, and understanding the latest treatment options available for shoulder pain and dysfunction.

Guests will enjoy a complimentary lunch while learning about:

  • Common shoulder injuries and conditions
  • Injury prevention techniques
  • Early warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored
  • Non-surgical and surgical treatment options
  • When to seek evaluation from an orthopedic specialist

“Education is one of the most important tools we can provide our community,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “This Lunch & Learn is a wonderful opportunity for people to hear directly from Dr. Rispoli, ask questions, and gain valuable information that can help them stay active, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life. We’re proud to offer events like this as part of our ongoing commitment to making our community healthier.”

Rispoli specializes in general orthopedics with advanced fellowship training in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery from the Mayo Clinic. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery and is a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

The event is free and open to the public; however, space is limited and advance registration is required.

To reserve a seat, visit https://www.mariaparham.com/events.

(This information was originally posted July 8, 2026. This is not a paid ad. MPH is an advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com.)

More Than 40 Firefighters Respond To Fire At Glass Plant Saturday Night

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More than 40 firefighters responded to a call Saturday night to the Ardagh Group on Facet Road. Bearpond Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Pendergrass said the call about a glass leak came in about 10:20 p.m.

While the first units were on their way to the scene, firefighters got word that a tank had collapsed and flames were visible.

Firefighters from across the county helped, as well as departments from Franklin County. Crews remained at the scene for more than three hours, providing fire suppression, structural cooling and product containment.

The glass plant is still operational, he said. Damage was contained to the areas of the single tank that was involved. Apparently, the source of the incident was a furnace that holds molten glass before it is transferred through the machinery that creates the glass products. Pendergrass said the molten glass, at that point in the process, was about 2,800 degrees F.

Bearpond Fire Department got help from Epsom, Kittrell, Watkins, Vance County fire department, as well as Vance County EMS, Vance County Emergency Management and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Pendergrass, all employees were accounted for; no injuries were reported.

“Initial crews reported fire on multiple floors as well in the ceiling area,” Pendergrass said.

A fifth department was requested for additional manpower. Fire units would operate for roughly 3.5 hours. providing fire suppression, structural cooling and product containment.

“This incident is a true reflection of our great collaboration and working relationship between our departments and mutual aid partners,” Pendergrass said.

Click the photo to see more at the Epsom Volunteer Fire Department page on Facebook.

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