Tag Archive for: #warrencountynews

Thinking Of Planting A Specialty Crop? N.C. Ag Dept. Accepting Grant Applications

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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Nonprofits and government agencies have until 5 p.m. on Mar 10 to submit applications.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is managed by the department, through anticipated funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eligible projects must involve fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, nursery, floriculture or horticulture crops.

“We are fortunate in North Carolina that our farmers can grow just about any crop, which means the production of specialty crops continues to grow and add to the state’s $111 billion ag industry,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This $1.2 million in grants helps support and grow specialty crop production.”

The department will accept grant requests of up to $200,000 from nonprofit organizations, academia, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, and colleges and universities. Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual.

See https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop for a comprehensive listing of qualifying specialty crops. For grant guidelines and an application, go to www.ncspecialtycrops.com/apply. For questions, contact Jenni Keith at 919.707.3158 or by email at jenni.keith@ncagr.gov.

Warren County Health Dept. Hosts Women’s Heart Health Lunch And Learn Feb. 13

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Today is National Wear Red Day! The Warren County Health Department invites member of the community to join the national movement by not only wearing red today, but by sharing photos on Facebook and tagging the health department in the posts.

Not into Facebook? Send photos to tanishalyons@warrencountync.gov and we can post the pictures on the event page. This will create a vibrant display of unity and commitment to this important cause.

The health department continues its observance of Heart Health Month with a Women’s Heart Health Lunch and Learn session on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Warren County Memorial Library.

Participants will hear an informative discussion about the effects of heart disease on women and also will learn some strategies to improve women’s heart health. A light lunch will be provided. RSVP to this program at 252.257.6037.

Some startling statistics about women’s heart health:

  • Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and yet only 44 percent of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat.

 

  • Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for more than one-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.

 

  • Between 10 percent and 20 percent of women will have a health issue during pregnancy, and high blood pressure, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy greatly increase a woman’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

 

 

NC Community Foundation Scholarship Info

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The North Carolina Community Foundation administers nearly 140 college scholarships totaling close to $1.8 million. Most of the applications are open until Mar. 3 for students looking for ways to help pay for college.

There is no cost to apply and students can apply online using NCCF’s Universal Scholarships Application, which matches student information with criteria for about 130 scholarships for which they may be eligible.

There are a dozen or so other NCCF scholarships that have separate applications with different due dates. Students should review the criteria for those and follow instructions on how to apply.

All scholarships are established through endowment funds at NCCF with criteria determined by the donor. In 2024, NCCF awarded almost $1.5 million in scholarships to 360 students.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Scholarships for detailed application instructions.

VCHS Band Director Jaron Cox To Take Conductor Role In 3rd Annual Community Youth Honor Band

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— information courtesy of Vance County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College

More than 100 of the region’s best young musicians will show off their skills at the 3rd annual Community Youth Honor Band Concert, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7 at the VGCC Civic Center.

The concert, which is free and open to the public. begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Campus Civic Center in Henderson. All family, friends and community members are encouraged to come support these talented students and the schools they represent.

Jaron Cox, a founding member of the honor band event, will lead the intermediate group – the Green Honor Band. Cox is the band director at Vance County High School. VGCC music instructor Brian D. Miller will lead the advanced group, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Middle and high school students representing schools throughout VGCC’s four-county service area were nominated by their respective band directors for their musical talent and passion. They will gather for the first time to rehearse on Thursday, Feb. 6, reconvene Friday morning, and present a concert that evening.

The student musicians will learn new songs especially for this event. Music selections had not yet been finalized at the time of publication, but event organizers offered a preview of what songs attendees might hear: “Ballad for Peace,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Ready the Castle” (JaRod Hall), and “Shadow Fire” (Randall D. Standridge), among others.

Cox said he is honored to lead this talented group of students. “The opportunity to conduct the Green Honor Band is a privilege,” said Cox. “This concert brings together young musicians from across the region to showcase their talents, and I look forward to helping them create a memorable performance.”

The Community Youth Honor Band includes middle and high school students from Granville, Vance, Warren and Franklin counties. It offers a special opportunity for students to collaborate with peers from other schools and perform in a large concert band. The preparation begins the day prior to the performance, with students rehearsing intensively for the big event.

Last year’s concert featured 95 students—45 from middle schools and 50 from high schools—performing before an audience of more than 300 in the VGCC Civic Center. This year promises to be another exciting display of musical growth and community spirit.

Cox also expressed gratitude for the continued support of the event by Betsy Henderson, VGCC Department Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities, Dr. Thomas Koinis, MD, FAAFP, VGCC Community Band member, and Tiffany Stone of Hill’s Music, aas well as Miller, who also is director of the Community Band.

This event was planned by a committee comprised of VGCC representatives, area band directors and school administrators, local business owners, and other community members. To learn more about the band or Fine Arts programs at Vance-Granville, contact department chair Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.

NC SBI

The Local Skinny! Missing Woman’s Remains Found

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— courtesy of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page

“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigations, and with the assistance of the Youngsville Rescue Dive Team, executed searches in Vance County on 1/30/2025. During the search, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office, where they have been identified as the remains of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her disappearance and death are continuing to be investigated. No other information will be released at this time. We would like to thank Sheriff Curtis Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.”

— courtesy of the NC State Bureau of Investigation

“In January 2024, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) regarding a missing person case from 2023. Dana Leigh Mustian was last seen on November 30, 2023, on Dorothy Drive in Warrenton, NC. On January 30, 2025, the Warren County Sheriff’s office, the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the Youngsville Rescue and EMS Dive Team, and the SBI executed searches in Vance County. While conducting a search in a pond near Henderson, possible human remains were discovered. The remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for identification. Those remains were identified as those of Dana Leigh Mustian. Her family has been notified, and the investigation continues. No further details are available at this time.”

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Feb. 7 Deadline For Warren Residents To Ask For Help Removing Old Mobile Homes From Property

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Time is winding down for Warren County residents to take advantage of a program that provides financial assistance to remove dilapidated mobile homes from their property.

The deadline to request assistance is Friday, Feb. 7 to ensure demolition can take place before the grant ends at the end of February, according to Warren County officials.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, through the State Solid Waste Trust Fund, awarded Warren County a series of grants under this program, beginning in 2010, to assist in the deconstruction of abandoned manufactured homes. The grants have helped the county enforce its abandoned manufactured home ordinance that was first adopted in 2008. During past grant cycles from 2010 to 2017, Warren County used grant funds totaling $89,500 to aid eligible property owners in the legal deconstruction and disposal of abandoned units, resulting in the removal of approximately 50 units across the county.

Eligible property owners will owe costs that are not covered by grant funds. For a singlewide unit, costs are $35.00 for the demolition permit plus $270.00 landfill tipping fees; for a doublewide unit, $35.00 demolition permit plus $540.00 landfill tipping fees. In addition, homeowners will be responsible for any demolition costs that exceed the grant maximum of $1,485.00.

Property owners seeking more information or to apply to the county program may contact Planning and Zoning Administrator Mark Bloomer at 252.257.7027 or markbloomer@warrencountync.gov. Forms can be found online at https://www.warrencountync.com/789/Forms-Applications or picked up at the Planning/Zoning and Code Enforcement Department, 542 West Ridgeway Street, Warrenton, NC 27589.

 

Warren County Selected To Take Part In UNC Initiative To Understand Housing Issues

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Warren County is one of 14 teams across the state to participate in an initiative to understand challenges communities and residents face when it comes to access to affordable housing.

The “Our State, Our Homes” project is the fifth and final project of the Carolina Across 100 Initiative through the University of North Carolina and NC Impact, according to information from Warren County.

Participating communities will emerge from the 18-month program with a data-driven understanding of housing issues in their local contexts, high-impact tools to facilitate community conversations around housing needs, detailed understanding of local partners and assets, and increased knowledge and capacity to implement innovative strategies for improving housing affordability, county leaders say.

In addition, teams will receive coaching, technical assistance with innovation projects and opportunities to build relationships with peer communities as well as national, state and campus-based housing experts across the state.

The county’s lead for the project is Rose Ponton, community development manager with Warren County Community and Economic Development.

“Affordable and workforce housing are critical to the future of  Warren County,” Ponton said in a written statement. “By collaborating with UNC’s Carolina Across 100 Initiative and leveraging our local partnerships, we are taking proactive steps to address these challenges and build a stronger community.”

In 2024, the North Carolina Housing Coalition reports that 32 percent of Warren County households are considered cost-burdened by housing costs (2,248 households in the county). Warren County ranks 42nd in the state for numbers of housing evictions. The coalition reports that 24 percent of homeowners and 54 percent of renters had difficulty affording their homes in 2024.

“Warren County Community and Economic Development has launched a new focus on housing for the county organization in the last year,” stated Community and Economic Development Director Charla Duncan. “Selection for the Our State, Our Homes initiative is our second win in this recent focus, coming on the heels of being awarded a $950,000 CDBG grant for housing renovations.”

“These initiatives aren’t going to be magic wands for us and our housing challenges, but we are eager to start laying some important foundations for the future of our existing and future residents,” Duncan said.

Warren County is partnering with local organizations Working Landscapes and Warren Ministries United to drive this initiative forward. This core working group will attend several in-person forums over the next year and a half to strengthen efforts by integrating local expertise, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and implementing innovative housing strategies to provide accessible housing options, enhance quality of life, and support economic growth. All associated costs are covered by the initiative.

In addition to work done directly with the Carolina Across 100 staff and other working groups selected from across the state, Warren County will engage stakeholders from across the community to identify priorities, explore innovative solutions, and work to develop actionable strategies. Residents, community leaders, and organizations with a vested interest in affordable and workforce housing in the county are encouraged to get involved.

To learn more about the Our State, Our Homes project, visit https://carolinaacross100.unc.edu/program5/.

Warren County Senior Center Plans Jan. 23 Field Trip To Local Vineyard, Winery

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Join the Warren County Senior Center for a tour and lecture at Kim’s Vineyard and Winery on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. The lecture will focus on the science behind wine making, and the challenges to maintain a vineyard to produce the perfect grape. The group will depart the Senior Center at 11 a.m. and return by 2 p.m. There outing is free and lunch will be provided. Kim’s Vineyard and Winery offers a variety of homegrown canned vegetables and fruits for purchase at your own expense.

Kim’s Vineyard was started in Warren County by Cheryl and Walter Royster in 1995. It began as a hobby of planting a few rows of grapes by Royster to test out his “green thumb.” Over the years, more rows were planted which grew into Kim’s Vineyard. In 2004 Kim’s Vineyard expanded by adding a winery. The grape vineyard itself covers more than five acres of land and the winery sits on two acres. This is a “mom and pop” operated business that caters to everyone. Although the vineyard is seasonal, Kim’s Vineyard and Winery is open all year long. Kim’s Vineyard provides more than 18 different types of wine.

Call the Warren County Senior Center at 252.257.3111 to reserve your spot. Seating is limited.

Warren County Senior Center Schedules Thrift Shop Trip Jan. 16 – Reserve Your Spot Early!

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It’s Thrift Shop Thursday next week for the Warren County Senior Center, which is sponsoring a day trip for folks who want to shop for some bargains or just enjoy window shopping at InJoy Thrift Stores in Rocky Mount.

There’s no cost to participate in the Jan. 16 excursion – just pay for the treasures you may find while shopping and for lunch at Gardner’s Restaurant.

The group will depart the Warren County Senior Center at 9:30 a.m. and will return by about 2 p.m. If you’d like to go, you’ll need to reserve your spot in advance. Seating is limited, so call the senior center at 252.257.3111 to get a spot saved for you.

The InJoy Thrift Stores are operated on Christian principles, by Christian people, from area churches providing great merchandise donated locally and sold at great prices. Profits support and fund Christian based ministries in the community and throughout the world.

Kerr-Tar COG Seeks Sponsors For 2025 N.C. Senior Games

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Local businesses and individuals still have time to become sponsors for the 2025 Kerr-Tar Regional Senior Games, held each spring across the five counties that comprise the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Sponsorship levels include:

Gold – $1,500

Silver – $1,000

Bronze – $500

Family – $250

Friend – $100

Sponsors can choose to provide regionwide support or a specific county, according to information from KTCOG officials. Make checks payable to Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments to provide regionwide support or to your local Senior Center to support a particular county.

The Senior Games holds events in all five counties and involves adults 50 years and older in a variety of athletic events, as well as Silver Arts, which includes creative and performing arts.

In 2024, more than 223 local athletes participated in more than 50 sporting events and Silver Arts categories. Even more participants are expected for the 2025 games. First- and second-place winners qualify for the state finals, and state finals winners advance to the National Senior Games, held every two years.

For more information, contact local coordinator Michael Patterson or local co-coordinator Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org or callen@kerrtarcog.org.