Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Cast Your Vote Through Dec. 31 For McGregor Hall, Rec Players In BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards

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McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center and the Henderson Rec Players have been nominated for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards which recognizes regional productions.

Now it’s up to you, the voting public, to cast your vote! It’s simple, free, and takes just a few minutes of your time. One vote can be cast per email address, according to awards guidelines.

Voting continues through Dec. 31, 2022 and winners will be announced in January.

McGregor Hall and the Henderson Rec Players combined for a total of 28 nominations, in categories that range from actors and supporting actors to direction and stage design. Find the link to vote – and a sample ballot – at the McGregor Hall website, https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

Representative-Elect Sossamon To Be Sworn In On Jan. 10 At McGregor Hall

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Frank Sossamon will be sworn in as the newest representative for N.C. House District 32 Tuesday and the public is invited to attend.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at McGregor Hall on Jan. 10 at 6 p.m.

Superior Court Judge John Dunlow will administer the oath of office.

District 32 includes Vance and Granville counties.

During the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, candidate Sossamon focused on priorities which include generating local jobs, encouraging small business development, improving education and reducing crime throughout the district.

Murder Charge Added For Father Of Child Who Died Dec. 3

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The father of a 6-year-old who died earlier this month has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of his son.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame issued a press statement Tuesday, in which he said Eric Eugene Allen Powe, 31, was charged with murder on Dec. 8. Rowe surrendered himself to authorities on Dec. 9, Brame stated. He is being held in the Vance County jail under a $200,000 secured bond.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 3. Members of the sheriff’s office were dispatched to 67 Hoyle Lane in Henderson after receiving a call about a gunshot victim.

The boy was transported to Maria Parham Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, responded to the scene to conduct an investigation into the incident.

Rowe originally had been arrested on a felony child abuse charge, but murder charges were brought against him as the sheriff’s office and the SBI continued their investigation.

The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200.

IRS Reminder: Dec. 31 Deadline For Certain Taxpayers Who Deferred In 2020

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If you’re an employer or self-employed and you chose to defer paying part of your 2020 Social Security tax liability, you have until the end of the month to make your second annual installment of the deferred amount, the Internal Revenue Service reminds.

As part of the COVID relief provided during 2020, employers could choose to put off paying the employer’s share of their Social Security tax liability, which is 6.2 percent of wages. Self-employed individuals also could choose to defer a similar amount of their self-employment tax. Generally, half of that deferral was due on Dec. 31, 2021. The other half is due on Dec. 31, 2022.

Earlier this fall, the IRS sent reminder notices to affected employers and self-employed individuals. The agency noted, however, that those affected are still required to make the payment on time, even if they did not receive a notice.

Employers and individuals have several options for making this payment. Deferral payments can made through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), Direct Pay, by debit card, credit card or digital wallet, or with a check or money order. No matter which payment option is chosen, it must be made separately from other tax payments and deposits. This will ensure that it is credited properly and will help avoid follow-up bills or notices.

Employers and individuals can make the deferral payments through enrollment in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, a free service available from the Treasury Department. On the Tax Type Selection screen, choose Deferred Social Security Tax and then change the date to the applicable tax period (the calendar quarter in 2020 for which tax was deferred). Visit EFTPS.gov, or call 800-555-4477 or 800-733-4829 for details.

Alternatively, self-employed individual taxpayers can choose Direct Pay to pay directly from a checking or savings account. This service is available free only on IRS.gov/payments/direct-pay. Select the “Balance Due” reason for payment and apply the payment to the 2020 tax year where the payment was deferred. Direct Pay is not available to pay employment taxes.

If paying with a credit card, debit card or digital wallet, select “installment agreement.” Apply the payment to the 2020 tax year where the payment was deferred. Note that the IRS does not charge a fee for this service, but the authorized third-party payment processors do. Visit IRS.gov/Payments for details.

Make any check or money order payable to United States Treasury, not IRS. For more information on where to mail payments see Instructions for Form 941.

Diabetes: Living With, Preventing Disease

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Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy and causes blood sugar levels to rise to abnormally high levels. As the seventh leading cause of death, diabetes is one of the most common – and dangerous – health issues in the U.S. In fact, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and one in five who do have it are unaware of their condition.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Cheryl Hester, a registered nurse at Maria Parham Health, said diabetes can be treated with medication and its risks reduced by making a few key lifestyle changes.

Children as young as 1 year old have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a result of the body stopping production of insulin altogether.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body turn food into energy and manages your blood sugar. Symptoms for Type 1 typically develop early and intensely, and this type is primarily diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. Those with Type 1 take insulin regularly to compensate for their body’s inability to produce it.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common iteration of the disease and usually occurs when your body has difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels as a result of an inability to use insulin properly.

Generally speaking, risk factors including unhealthy weight, age and a family history of Type 2 diabetes can contribute to a person being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes also are at a greater risk for a Type 2 diagnosis, as are people from higher-risk ethnic groups such as African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian-Americans are also at higher risk).

Gestational diabetes occurs only in females and results when pregnancy-related body changes affect the ability to make sufficient inulin. It typically goes away after birth, but it can increase the mother’s and the child’s risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A related condition is prediabetes. Prediabetes presents when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. More than one in three American adults – around 96 million – have prediabetes, and more than 80 percent don’t know it. Diabetes can also lead to other, more serious health issues, like heart and kidney disease, vision loss and stroke. The good news is that Type 2 and gestational diabetes can be prevented. Eating healthy foods, engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help.

How do you know if you have diabetes? There are classic symptoms, including frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, unintended weight loss, blurry vision, fatigue, abnormally dry skin, numb or tingling hands or feet, slow-healing sores and more infections than usual.

But you may not have any of the above-mentioned symptoms and still have diabetes. Your primary care provider can conduct a simple blood sugar test to determine whether you have diabetes or prediabetes. Being equipped with the knowledge of your status can empower you and your provider to work together on a treatment plan and lifestyle changes to improve and protect your health if needed.

For more information on diabetes, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes and www.diabetes.org.

Need to make an appointment with a provider for a talk about diabetes and blood sugar testing? Call 800.424.DOCS or visit https://www.mariaparham.com/

 

Weekend Holiday Events To Add To The Calendar

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Amid the holiday hustling and bustling, there are numerous opportunities to share fun – and free – activities with family and friends in the Henderson area between now and Christmas. The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of events and programs happening over the next week or so that can be a welcome respite from crowded shopping areas and stressful schedules.

 

Friday, Dec. 16 – through Christmas 

  • Stop by the lobby between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library to see the Christmas tree display, decorated by downtown businesses for the community to enjoy.
  • Find the photo backdrops and booths around downtown Henderson to snap a fun family photo – or selfie! – to create a new holiday memory.

 

Saturday, Dec. 17

  • 2 p.m. – informational meeting of the teen entrepreneur club. Register at http://bit.ly/VanceTeenEntrepreneur.com or call Wykia Macon at 252.438.8188.
  • 7:30 p.m. – Get an infusion of the holiday spirit at a free concert by Northeast Piedmont Chorale, McGregor Hall.
  • Concerts not your thing? Then head down to Movie Night@Sadie’s. $15 gets you a spaghetti dinner, popcorn, drinks and the movies “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Bad Santa.” RSVP to 252.572.2542.

 

School Board Begins New Term With Swearing-In Ceremony Dec. 12

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Four members of the Vance County Board of Education were sworn in  Dec. 12  – two newcomers and two who returning members.

Randy Oxendine and Omega Perry are beginning their first terms on the school board, representing District 2 and District 6, respectively. They join returning board members Gloria White and Ruth Hartness.

White, who has represented District 1 since 2002, will be the new board chair; Oxendine was selected to be vice-chair.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the citizens of Vance County.,” she said in written information provided by Vance County Schools. “I am very appreciative of the people in District 1, for their continuous support and confidence in me. I believe in education. I believe that receiving a quality education can change a person’s life and the world. Without a quality education the future of our nation will be very bleak,” White said, adding that she is proud to live in Vance County and to be a member of the board of education.

Randy Oxendine decided to run for the District 2 seat being vacated by his wife, Darlynn Oxendine, who decided not to seek another term on the board.

He is a retired educator with the school system and has coached a variety of sports over the years.

Perry, the other newcomer to the board, was elected to the District 6 seat, which previously was held by Margaret Ellis, who retired from the board after 32 years. He is pastor at Cook’s Chapel AME Zion Church in Henderson and St. Mary’s AME Zion Church in Kittrell, but he also is a substitute teacher in Warren County Schools.

“I am excited,” Perry said. “My motto is helping the community one person at a time,” he said.

Hartness has been the District 7 representative on the school board for 22 years. She said she enjoys her service on the board and wants to continue working with Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett, who she said done “a phenomenal job” leading the school district. “My mission is to support her in our efforts to educate the young people of Vance County so they will be prepared and be successful when they leave us.”

Outgoing members Oxendine and Ellis were recognized for their contributions to the school board during the meeting. In addition to receiving a rocking chair, Ellis was given a keepsake album filled with photographs taken at her recent retirement celebration; Oxendine was presented with a poster highlighting her career with the school district. It was announced that the first game of the 2023-24 volleyball season would be named for Oxendine, with proceeds going to her favorite charity.

 

Bill Stanley Moves Into Lead Superintendent Role At Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

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Bill Stanley has been named lead superintendent at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area in Vance and Warren counties, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. He has served as a superintendent I at Kerr Lake since 2018.

A state park superintendent manages the operations and administration of a park and has responsibilities that include staffing, planning, environmental education, natural resources management, law enforcement and visitor services.

Originally from Ramseur, N.C., Stanley has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Stanley’s years at Kerr Lake have inspired a number of goals for his first year as superintendent.

“I want to improve community engagement and complete projects that improve visitor experiences at the park,” he said. “I want Kerr Lake to embody our mission of conservation, recreation and education.”

Stanley began his career in state parks in 2010 as a seasonal employee at Raven Rock in Harnett County and then worked as an AmeriCorps educator at Carvers Creek in Cumberland County. He took a park ranger position at Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County before moving to Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.

North District Superintendent Kristen Woodruff said she looks forward to Stanley’s leadership to direct the park through growth and change.

“Bill’s familiarity with both the challenges and opportunities at Kerr Lake provide a foundation for excellent leadership as the park continues to grow and change. He is setting a new standard for the visitor experience at Kerr Lake,” she said.

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area is a collective of eight access areas around the shoreline of the 50,000-acre reservoir built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seven campgrounds with hundreds of campsites allow visitors lakeside camping, and numerous shelters and community buildings provide popular venues for local gatherings.

All eight recreation accesses provide boat access to one of the best fishing lakes in the eastern United States.
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 258,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 22.7 million visitors annually.

Lessons & Carols Service At Historic St. John’s Episcopal Church Sunday At 5 PM

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The historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in Williamsboro is the site for a traditional service of Lessons and Carols this Sunday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.

The community is invited to the service, which is fashioned in the style of King’s College in Cambridge, England.

St. John’s is the oldest frame church in North Carolina, and celebrates its 250th year in 2023.

In the days before the American Revolution, Williamsboro held a prominent position in the state. At one time, it was considered the prime location for a university – which ultimately was founded in Chapel Hill.

Early members of the church included John Penn, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Although not considered an active parish, St. John’s is maintained and supported by the Diocese of North Carolina and a dedicated committee made up largely of parishioners of The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oxford.

These churches, as well as the former St. John’s in Henderson and St. Cyprian’s, Oxford, are offshoots of the church in Williamsboro.

The service of Lessons & Carols is one of several held at the church each year, including a Homecoming service in October and an Easter service.

You can follow St. John’s Episcopal Church in Williamsboro on Facebook. (facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070992423730)

City of Henderson Logo

Council May Take Action Monday On Request For Motorsports Park

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UPDATE FROM WIZS RADIO – Click Here – wizs.com/henderson-zooms-ahead-with-racetrack-ordinance

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The Henderson City Council will hold a public hearing as part of its December meeting before possibly deciding whether to accept a request to allow a motorsports park within the city’s jurisdiction.

Included in the agenda packet for the Dec. 12 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., is an item from Devin Anderson and Justin Davis, who have submitted a request to open a race track. This request resulted in city staff drafting an ordinance that includes all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles, automobiles and trucks. The planning board reviewed the information back in June, but member requested more time to review the ordinance.

In August, the planning board made a motion to deny the text amendment, and the council, at its October meeting, asked the land planning committee to review the information and recommend possible changes.

The committee met on Nov. 30 according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon, and the council is scheduled to get an update and a possible recommendation before deciding whether to accept or deny the request.

According to the agenda packet, issues that were addressed by city staff include hours or operation, defining “racing event,” gravel parking and setbacks.

WIZS News asked Blackmon about the process, and in a reply by email, he said that the land planning committee had made minor changes to the ordinance based on recommendations from the city council’s October meeting.

“There is a revised text amendment that will go before council on Monday night,” Blackmon said, adding that the public hearing will be reconvened from October before council takes action.

Even if the text amendment is approved, Blackmon noted that there remain specific requirements to be met before a race track could be developed, including getting a special-use permit from the board of adjustment.