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Tag Archive for: #warrencountynews

NC Dept of Agriculture

Avoid The $5 Fee And Submit Soil Samples By Nov. 30

October 16, 2026/by WIZS Staff

— From N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Fall is a time for planting and preparing for the upcoming growing season. It is also a good time to submit soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Soil tests are free through Nov. 30, so now’s the time to submit those little brown boxes with samples of your yard, garden or other areas you’re interested in.

During peak season, the fee is $5 per sample. For 2026-27, peak soil testing season begins Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, and runs through Mar. 31, 2027.

Samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services Division at 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, to avoid the peak-season fee. The date of shipping, delivery to a local Cooperative Extension office, or postmark does not determine whether the fee applies. The samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services facility before the fee goes into effect. “The peak-season fee has helped us spread the sample processing time out, which benefits our farmers and residents,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Before it was initiated in 2013, turnaround time to receive test results was often greater than 12 weeks, and the lab was incredibly busy until mid-April. The fee encouraged early sampling, which enabled the lab to do a lot of analysis in the fall rather than in the winter.

“Another important aspect of the fee is that all revenue is invested back into the lab. This plays a critical role in helping the lab operate at high capacity,” Troxler said. “The lab hires temporary employees with these funds and uses additional revenue to maintain equipment and, in some cases, replace equipment.”

For the best service, it is critical that the lab receives all essential information along with a good-quality sample.

The following steps can help prevent delays that may occur when samples are submitted without the required information:

  1. Use only official NCDA&CS soil sample boxes. Soil sample boxes and submission forms are available at local county Cooperative Extension offices and at the Agronomic Services Division, 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. Fill the soil box to the red line on the outside of the box. Required information on the box includes the client’s name, address and sample ID.
  2. Complete the soil submission form. Required information includes the client’s full name and address, a crop code, a valid email address and a phone number. The crop code is important because it allows the lab to provide crop-specific recommendations. Reports are delivered by email.
  3. Make sure the information on the soil submission form matches the information written on the soil sample boxes.
  4. Keep a copy of your submission form. Save a copy or photo of the completed form for your records.
  5. Package samples securely. Tightly package soil sample boxes in a sturdy shipping container to prevent damage. Do not use padded mailing envelopes, as the boxes may be crushed.
  6. For faster delivery, private carriers such as UPS or FedEx deliver directly to the Agronomic Services facility. USPS deliveries go through an off-site mail center which adds time to delivery. Some county Cooperative Extension offices also collect samples for delivery to the division. Clients should confirm that the delivery schedule meets their needs and allows samples to arrive before the peak-season deadline.
  7. Consider using the public portal, PALS, for online submission. This feature allows clients to enter submission information online and helps ensure that accurate information is provided for the sample. If using PALS, make sure the submission is completed and enclose a printed copy of the submission form with the soil samples.

Remember: the dates of online submission, shipping, postmark, or drop off at a local Cooperative Extension office do not determine the fee. Whether the cost is $0 or $5 is based on the date the samples physically arrive at the Agronomic Services facility.

For more information, contact the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division at 919-664-1600 or visit the Agronomic Services Soil Testing webpage.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0088_NC-Department-of-Agriculture-and-Consumer-Services-Logo.jpg.png 265 504 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-10-16 14:59:012026-10-16 15:56:29Avoid The $5 Fee And Submit Soil Samples By Nov. 30

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960, Part 3

October 8, 2026/by Laura Gabel

People may look back in time and identify particular dates or specific short-term events that are, decades or centuries later, now viewed as being historical. Dates like July 4, 1776, December 7, 1941 are just two particular dates etched into most Americans’ minds as having great significance. Most folks can tell you the importance of those two dates – Independence Day and Pearl Harbor.

But sometimes it’s the regular – the mundane – that are rightly added to that category of “historical events,” and WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace talked about several in Thursday’s TownTalk segment called “Around Old Granville.”

Take road expansion as one example. Road projects take years (sometimes decades) to complete, but the widening of U.S. 1 from Raleigh to Henderson and later the Hwy. 401 project between Raleigh and Louisburg, both are game-changers for the area.

Harris and Pace wrapped up a three-part series on events since 1960 that have historical significance for the four-county area.

Add to those road expansions the completion of “the Missing Link” that connected I-85 in southern Granville County back in 1973, and Pace said road construction has had a significant impact on the area.

Water systems, like roads, are critical pieces of infrastructure that communities rely on for daily life. A severe drought in 1974, coupled with the need to provide water to Soul City and the possibility of landing a beer manufacturer in Warren County led to the development of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, Pace said.

“Old Milwaukee wanted to relocate to Warren County,” Pace said, adding that the manufacturer would require a tremendous amount of water. At the time, there wasn’t a water system capable of handling their demands.

Well, it didn’t work out with Old Mil but the water system today processes millions and millions of gallons of water a day. It is completing a huge expansion to grow the amount to 20 million gallons a day.

The area has seen its share of protests since 1960 – some successful and others less so.

Landowners in southern Granville had been upset over the creation of Camp Butner during World War II because they didn’t feel like they were being fairly compensated for the property the government was taking.

Ditto the creation of Kerr Lake in the 1950’s and Falls Lake in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s.

Those projects prevailed and are part of the fabric of the community, but there were other protests that caused a stir.

There have been protests against proposed repositories for hazardous materials and waste incinerators, Pace said. In fact, the PCB landfill protests of 1982 is largely credited with being the driver for coining the phrase “environmental justice.”

Pace said it was a “grassroots resistance movement that’s actually been echoed nationwide. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 50 years.”

What events, projects or particular dates will be added to that list of historical events in 50 or 60 more years?

But there could be other events that, for now, are considered regular, ordinary…mundane.

Will it be the Dabney Drive project, long-talked about but – so far, anyway – still in the planning stage?

Will there be “that date” when folks first learned about plans for a proposed data center, sparking a rise in protests and opposition?

Time will tell.

CLICK PLAY!

WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960 Part 3
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Around_Old_Granville.png 265 504 Laura Gabel https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png Laura Gabel2026-10-08 11:00:212026-10-09 18:41:02TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960, Part 3
VGCC Logo

VGCC Announces Partnership With New York-Based Excelsior University

October 2, 2026/by WIZS Staff

— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Vance-Granville Community College is partnering with a New York-based university to provide its students with access to a wide range of online undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs.

Through the collaboration with Excelsior University, VGCC graduates can continue their education and advance their careers, according to a recent press release from VGCC.

VGCC Vice President of Instruction & Student Services Kim Sepich said, “Our partnership with Excelsior University provides Vance-Granville Community College graduates with many options for continuing their education. The flexibility Excelsior offers allows students to pursue degree programs in ways that work for them, which is really important for people managing a variety of life responsibilities.”

In addition to offering a rolling admissions calendar, Excelsior offers other benefits, including a 10 percent tuition discount for undergraduate and graduate students, access to personalized support, more than 40 degree programs and professional development courses and skills training.

These educational partnership benefits are also available for eligible Vance-Granville Community College employees, as well as their spouses or domestic partners and children.

“As the needs of students and employers continue to evolve, it is increasingly important for institutions to create clear and affordable pathways for lifelong learning,” said Excelsior University President David Schejbal. “Through this partnership with Vance-Granville Community College, learners can move seamlessly between institutions, with new possibilities for personal and professional growth at every stage of the educational journey.”

Excelsior University provides online degrees to working adult students in six fields of study that directly align with Vance-Granville Community College’s educational offerings, including programs in Business, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Service, and Technology.

For more information on this partnership, visit www.excelsior.edu/partner/vance-granville-community-college.

To learn about other transfer partnerships available to Vance-Granville Community College students, visit VGCC’s online Transfer Center or call 252.738.3255.

 

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/VGCC-Logo.png 265 504 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-10-02 09:06:052026-10-03 14:59:09VGCC Announces Partnership With New York-Based Excelsior University

Warren County Initiates Water Conservation Efforts As Kerr Lake Levels Remain Low

September 24, 2026/by WIZS Staff

— From Warren County government

 

Warren County issued a press release Thursday asking all water customers to immediately conserve water due to critically low water levels in Kerr Lake, the county’s primary water source.

 

Effective immediately, residents and businesses are required to limit water use and avoid all unnecessary consumption. Please refrain from activities such as watering lawns and gardens, washing vehicles, filling swimming pools, and other non-essential uses of water. Residents are encouraged to take additional steps to conserve water, including taking shorter showers, repairing leaks, and only running dishwashers and washing machines when full.

 

This mandatory conservation measure will remain in effect until water levels in Kerr Lake improve and conditions allow the county to lift the restriction. The lake level Thursday was recorded at 288.88 feet, more than 11 feet below full pool level.

 

Warren County appreciates the cooperation of all residents and businesses as we work together to protect our community’s water supply.

Find a copy of the county’s Water Shortage Response plan at https://www.warrencountync.com/DocumentCenter/View/6406/Mandatory-Water-Conservation-Notice

 

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Warren-County.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-09-24 16:45:142026-09-24 19:28:54Warren County Initiates Water Conservation Efforts As Kerr Lake Levels Remain Low

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – The Role of Tobacco in Old Granville County

September 17, 2026/by WIZS Staff

When folks bring up “the good ol’ days” as they reminisce about how things used to be, it often comes with feelings of nostalgia. You know – when times were simpler and less complicated.

Some may remember summer afternoons shelling beans on the front porch or squeezing lemons for sugary lemonade.

But whoever recalls sweating in a tobacco field, topping or priming as you made your way up and down the endless rows may have a different perspective about how “good” those days were.

There is no doubt that Vance County – indeed, all of the area once known as Granville County – has a long, rich history with tobacco. Tobacco paid the bills, literally, for a lot of farmers and played a tremendous role in the area’s economy.

People moving south from Virginia brought their “red” tobacco with them when they settled in this area, said local historian Mark Pace. It was cured differently and they used it for snuff, for chewing and for smoking in their pipes.

Fast forward to post-American Revolution days and Granville County not only had ideal soil for growing tobacco, but it also had lots of plantations that had lots of enslaved people.

“There was a crop here and there was a labor supply,” Pace said on Thursday’s TownTalk segment of Around Old Granville. He and WIZS’s Bill Harris chatted about the history of tobacco, their own memories about growing up in an area where the crop has played – and continues to play – such a vital role.

When the railroad came through in the 1830’s, it provided a way for tobacco farmers to get their product to market, whether it was Richmond, Baltimore or to the coast where it would be shipped overseas.

And tobacco was just as important as the railroad to Henderson’s prosperity, Pace said.

“There was a time in the 1880’s,” Pace said, “when Henderson, North Carolina was the world’s largest tobacco market,” moving something like 6.5 million pounds of tobacco from warehouses to manufacturers.

J.P. Taylor, one of the biggest in the world, was located in Henderson.

By 1878, there were close to a dozen tobacco warehouses in Henderson, and the second week in August, they’d come alive with activity. That’s when the tobacco markets opened and the air all around was filled with that unmistakable aroma of the cured golden leaf.

The local newspaper plumped up to rival the size of the Sunday New York Times, Pace said, with local businesses placing ads to get the attention of tobacconists and farmers alike during the market.

“Tobacco farmers got paid once,” Pace said. “That’s when you took your tobacco to market.”

Generations of families helped plant, cultivate, tend, prime and barn tobacco – it was important to the whole family that the crop be successful.

Pace said he remembers kids getting out of school early because they needed to help get the tobacco in; when the tobacco season was late, the opening of school was delayed, he said.

“It all revolved around tobacco,” Pace added.

Farmers worried about one thing or another during the season – weather, worms, wilt – and they continued to worry when the leaf was in the curing barn because of the risk of fire.

Farmers who were able to get their crop to market, however, could see the results of their considerable labor get auctioned off bundle by 500-pound bundle.

Buyers representing the major manufacturers were bidding and farmers were listening, hoping for top dollar.

But changes were in the offing, especially after the U.S. Surgeon General’s 1964 report that smoking causes cancer.

And when the price of tobacco fell, producers planted more tobacco to make up the difference. That led to a glut on the market, and the government stepped in to limit how much tobacco farmers could produce. At first, it was based on acreage, Pace said, but it changed from acreage to poundage to account for the fact that the crop grew better on some land than on other.

Tobacco auctions and warehouses largely went away, with the trend emerging to contract directly with tobacco manufacturers.

“The end of the price support program brought about the demise of the tobacco warehouse,” Pace noted.

The tobacco auctioneer’s chant will be in the air in Oxford next Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Tobacco Research Station on Providence Road. The Granville County Museum and Historical Society is hosting its second annual Mock Tobacco Auction on the grounds of the research station and Pace said folks can see – and hear – what auctions were all about.

Auctions will take place at the top of the hour during the afternoon event, which is a fundraiser for the museum.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will be a featured guest.

Admission is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $5 per person – $10 per family.

There will be plenty of vendors and food items, and there will even be a tobacco tying contest.

 

 

 

CLICK PLAY!

WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Around Old Granville – The Role of Tobacco in Old Granville County
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Around_Old_Granville.png 265 504 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-09-17 11:00:572026-09-17 15:46:42TownTalk: Around Old Granville – The Role of Tobacco in Old Granville County

N.C. State Fair Competition Deadline Sept. 15

September 14, 2026/by WIZS Staff

If you’ve been sitting the fence, there’s still a little time to enter any of the dozens of N.C. State Fair competitions that range from traditional fruit and vegetable production and sewing to new competitions that include amateur winemaking and country ham.

All registrations must be received by Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m., fair officials say.

“State Fair competitions are where people from all across North Carolina are really able to show off their talents,” said Kent Yelverton, N.C. State Fair director. “Being a ribbon winner is a big accomplishment and with so many different competitions there are lots of chances to win, but you cannot win if you don’t enter.”

Sept. 15 is also the deadline to register for 11 different cooking challenges taking place at the fair. There will be two separate categories, one for amateur home cooks and a professional class. These competitions will be held daily in the North Lobby of Dorton Arena and winners of each category will walk away with prize money — $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place. This year’s Home Chef Challenge schedule is as follows:

  • Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. – Blue Ribbon Brunch Board Challenge
  • Friday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. – Holy Guacamole! Challenge
  • Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m. – Boo-zy Sweet Treat Challenge – Presented by Distillers Association of North Carolina
  • Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. – Delightful Dips Challenge
  • Monday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. – Sweet potato Showdown Challenge
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. – “Cheez-y Does It!” Cheez-It Challenge
  • Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. – Bless Your Tart! Challenge
  • Thursday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. – “East to West” Pork BBQ Challenge – Presented by Smithfield Foods
  • Friday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. – “Nutty By Nature” Peanut Candy Challenge
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. – “Stew-pendous” Brunswick Stew Challenge
  • Sunday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. – “Layer It Up” Lasagna Challenge

Information on how to enter competitions can be found on the State Fair’s website, ncstatefair.org. Under the “Competitions” tab, you will find everything to know about categories, rules and deadlines. Read the General Entries Premium Book and Livestock Entries Premium Book for detailed descriptions of competitions, rules and item drop-off dates. Online registration and paper entry forms are found under the “Forms and General Rules” tab in each department.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NC-State-Fair-2026-560-x-294-px.png 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-09-14 22:14:142026-09-15 18:47:20N.C. State Fair Competition Deadline Sept. 15

Warren County Schools 2025-26 Accountability Report Card Notes Strong Gains At Several Schools

September 9, 2026/by WIZS Staff

Warren County Schools is entering the new school year with encouraging evidence of academic progress and stronger conditions for teaching and learning. According to the 2025–26 accountability results, five of the district’s six schools met or exceeded expected growth, including four schools that exceeded growth. 

The district’s strongest gains were recorded among its elementary schools and Warren Early College High School: 

  • Northside Elementary School improved from an F to a C and exceeded expected growth. 
  • Mariam Boyd Elementary School improved from an F to a D and exceeded expected growth. 
  • Vaughan Elementary School maintained a C and exceeded expected growth, continuing its multiyear improvement trajectory. 
  • Warren Early College High School improved from a B to an A and exceeded expected growth, earning the district’s highest overall performance. 

At the secondary level, the results demonstrate both areas of progress and opportunities for continued improvement. Warren County Middle School met expected growth overall, while also meeting growth in Math, for Black students, and for students with disabilities. While the school remains an F, these results demonstrate meaningful academic progress and provide a foundation for the district’s continued focus on increasing student proficiency. 

While Warren County High School remained a D and did not meet overall expected growth, the school recorded several encouraging academic gains. Math III proficiency increased by 1.7 percentage points, while Biology proficiency increased by 2.5 percentage points. The school also met growth for students with disabilities, reflecting important progress in supporting one of its key student populations.

Warren County High School also made significant gains in college and career readiness. Student performance on ACT and WorkKeys assessments increased from 19% to 34.6%, representing a 15.6 percentage-point increase. 

These improvements provide important building blocks as the district continues its focused work at Warren County High School around course performance, student proficiency, EVAAS growth, and college and career readiness. 

“We are encouraged by the progress our students and schools are making,” said Superintendent Dr. Carol Montague-Davis. “The growth is real, and it reflects the commitment of our students, educators, leaders, families, and community. At the same time, we know our work is not complete. Our next challenge is to sustain this growth and translate it into higher proficiency and stronger outcomes at every school.” 

Results from the 2026 Teacher Working Conditions Survey offer additional evidence that the district’s organizational foundation is strengthening: 

  • 86.15% of employees described their school as a good place to work and learn. ● 78.46% reported an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. 
  • 93.08% said they feel they are an important part of their school. 
  • 87.69% said they are proud to work at their school. 

Teacher perceptions of instructional coaching and professional support also improved significantly. 

Building on this momentum, Warren County Schools will continue to focus on sustaining progress at the elementary level, increasing proficiency at Warren County Middle and Warren County High schools, strengthening instructional feedback and coaching, protecting instructional time, and ensuring students with the greatest needs receive timely and effective support. 

With stronger teaching and learning conditions, measurable academic growth, and a clear improvement strategy, Warren County Schools remains committed to producing stronger outcomes for every student. 

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Warren-County-Schools-Logo.png 265 504 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-09-09 16:34:182026-09-09 17:36:34Warren County Schools 2025-26 Accountability Report Card Notes Strong Gains At Several Schools

VGCC Board Of Trustees Votes Against Hosting Educational Forum On Data Centers

September 4, 2026/by Laura Gabel

In a special called meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3, the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees decided against hosting an educational forum to discuss the issue of data centers.

At its regularly scheduled meeting on July 20, the board heard two requests from residents during the Public Comment period requesting the board consider hosting a public forum to give the community an opportunity to learn more about data centers, which has been a hot-button topic in Vance County for months.

At that meeting, the board instructed VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais to create a framework for a public forum.

“They specified that the framework should include a forum structure and guidelines,” Desmarais said in a statement Friday afternoon to WIZS News. “They also requested that I articulate the pros and cons of hosting such a forum and give them a recommendation on whether the College should indeed host such a forum.”

At Thursday’s meeting, the board reviewed the proposal, and, after what Desmarais described as “lengthy” discussions, Trustee Gordon Wilder made two motions, the first of which was withdrawn and replaced with a second motion to remove the VGCC administration from the responsibility of organizing an educational forum regarding data centers.

Trustee Tony Cozart seconded the motion and it passed unanimously in a roll-call vote.

Wilder’s first motion included keeping the college as a possible host site for a forum if a request came from a county commission or other recognized group from Vance, Granville, Warren or Franklin counties, which comprise the VGCC service area.

Desmarais said the board members considered a variety of concerns and options during their discussion, including risks of disruption from possible protests and the strain on college resources and staff that such an event could create.

According to Desmarais, Trustee Carolyn Faines – who also chairs the Vance County Board of Commissioners – questioned the logic of organizing an educational event before any formal application or filing for a data center has been made in Vance County. Desmarais said Faines characterized it as “putting the cart before the horse.”

Several board members suggested that another group could rent the Civic Center to host a forum and indicated a certain degree of comfort with providing a venue rather than hosting the event and the college would not be seen as organizing or endorsing the event.

In addition to Desmarais, trustees in attendance were Tony Cozart, Tare Davis, Carolyn Faines, Tom Harris, Dorwin Howard, Bruce Howerton, Abdul Rashid, Michael Schriver, Archie Taylor, Corey Thornton, Elaine Trujillo, Sara Wester, Gordon Wilder, Brenda Williamson, Xavier Wortham and Danny Wright.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VG-VGCC-Board-of-Trustees.jpg 265 504 Laura Gabel https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png Laura Gabel2026-09-04 17:16:482026-09-04 17:16:48VGCC Board Of Trustees Votes Against Hosting Educational Forum On Data Centers

Warren County Health Dept. Launches Smile Warren Kids Dental Program To Promote Oral Hygiene

August 28, 2026/by WIZS Staff

The Warren County Health Department’s new oral health initiative, Smile Warren Kids Dental Program, is designed to provide oral health education and dental hygiene supplies to children throughout the county.

The program, funded by Delta Dental Foundation, began at Soul City Head Start with children engaging in hands-on lessons on proper oral hygiene. The children learned the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day, flossing daily, eating healthy foods, and visiting the dentist regularly to help prevent cavities and maintain good oral health.

Each child also received a dental hygiene kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, a brushing timer and educational materials to encourage healthy habits at home.

The Smile Warren Kids Dental Program was created to increase oral health awareness while reducing barriers to preventive care by providing children with the tools and knowledge they need to care for their teeth. The program will continue to expand throughout the county by partnering with schools, childcare centers, and community organizations to reach more children and families.

Research underscores the importance of early oral health education. According to data from the National Children’s Oral Health Survey conducted by the Delta Dental Plans Association, parents in the United States report that about 30%—approximately 8.6 million—of children ages 6 to 12 have missed school due to an oral health problem, not just for routine dental checkups. This finding highlights the need for preventive efforts like the Smile Warren Kids Dental Program to support children’s health and school attendance.

The Smile Warren Kids Dental Program is one of many efforts by the Warren County Health Department to improve community health through education, prevention, and strong community partnerships. Additional educational sessions will be offered throughout the coming months as the program continues to grow and serve more children across Warren County.

For more information about the Smile Warren Kids Dental Program or other Health Education services offered by the Warren County Health Department, please contact the Health Education Division at 252.257.6017 or visit www.warrencountyhd.com.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Warren-County.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-08-28 16:37:052026-08-28 16:37:23Warren County Health Dept. Launches Smile Warren Kids Dental Program To Promote Oral Hygiene

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960 Part 1

August 27, 2026/by Laura Gabel

Local historians Mark Pace and WIZS’s Bill Harris are “of an age” now that things they remember when they were youngsters are now being considered as parts of local history that, with the benefit of hindsight, are proving to be noteworthy and important to the area.

The two history buffs usually discuss people, places and events from the very beginnings of the formation of what they refer to as Old Granville County, but this week they talked about several events that have found their way into the headlines since 1960.

Depending on your perspective, some of these events functioned much like the proverbial double-edged sword.

Henderson was where Paul H. Rose founded Rose’s, which at its peak, had something like 175 stores across the region. But Henderson had the first one, and it was located on Garnett Street, right in the heart of downtown.

That was back in 1915, when downtowns were where shopping happened. Needed shoes? Downtown. Wanted a piece of jewelry for a special gift? Downtown. Groceries? A&P on one end of Garnett, Colonial on the other. Clothing, sporting goods and more all were found downtown.

Rose’s stood its ground when Kmart and Mammoth Mart came to town, Pace said. But it had difficulty competing with Walmart, and Rose’s emerged from two years of bankruptcy in 1995 and then sold to Variety Wholesalers in 1997.

But Rose’s took a chance back in the late 1960’s when developers constructed the Henderson Mall.

The mall, all 185,000 square feet of it, opened in July 1969. Pace remembers that he and his brother pestered their mother until she took them there for the first time.

Harris said the mall drew patrons from nearby counties, too. People could park their cars, go inside the mall and get all their shopping done.

“It was a big deal,” Harris said, adding that the mall had “a huge impact on the entire region.”

With those benefits, however, came consequences – especially for the downtown area. The mall “changed the focus of the entire community,” Pace said.

Of course, what happened in Henderson was happening all over the place with malls and suburban retail spaces luring business away from downtowns

People still went downtown for staples like the post office, the library and the courthouse, but the mall was where folks went to shop, eat and where young people could hang out with friends.

Just as malls shaped people’s shopping habits, so did the nation’s growing interstate system shape how people got from one place to another way back in the 20th century.

It was in 1960 that the first stretch of I-85 in the area was completed – 18 miles from Henderson to about Wise in Warren County.

And finally, in 1972, the final bit – dubbed “the Missing Link” connected Oxford and Butner. Pace said John K. Nelms was instrumental in completion of the Granville County section.

The original plans had the interstate going around Henderson to the east, hitting Gillburg and Kittrell before heading to Wilson and ultimately linking with Durham.

“The powers that be lobbied long and hard (and it was) with quite a great deal of effort that Oxford got included in the 85 path,” Pace said.

In close proximity to I-85 in Warren County was where Floyd McKissick planted the seed for Soul City, a planned city that, had it taken hold, was supposed to have 55,000 inhabitants by the year 2000.

The idea never really took off, but McKissick is someone locals point to as the person who helped bring a regional water system to the area.

McKissick, a Republican, was very influential in the political arena and he knew Richard Nixon.

After Nixon was elected president, Pace said McKissick “called in a marker” with his pal and said he wanted a regional water system.

Those efforts resulted in the creation of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System in 1976.

Listen back to the complete story at wizs.com to learn about other events that helped shape local history around Old Granville.

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960 Part 1
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Around_Old_Granville.png 265 504 Laura Gabel https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png Laura Gabel2026-08-27 11:00:362026-08-27 16:43:42TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Major Events Since 1960 Part 1
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