Tag Archive for: #warrencountynews

2026 Senior Games Registration Opens Feb. 2

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Senior athletes in the Kerr-Tar Region, it’s time to start thinking about which games you’d like to enter in the Senior Games 2026, which begin later this spring.

Early bird registration runs Feb. 2 through Feb. 16 and is $15; the registration goes up to $20 after Feb. 16. The registration deadline is Mar. 2, according to information from Michael Patterson, with the Kerr-Tar COG’s Family Caregiver Specialist.

The dates for the games are Mar. 20 – May 15, 2026. The Silver Arts date is scheduled for May 15, 2026.

The games include:

badminton, basketball, billiards, bocce, bowling, cornhole, croquet, cycling, disc golf, discus, running and standing long jumps, football throw, golf, horseshoes, mini golf pickleball, shuffleboard, softball throw, swimming, table tennis, tennis and track events.

Individuals compete for awards in their own gender and age category with 5-year increments.

50-54, 55-59, 60-64, etc.

There are additional fees for bowling ($5), mini golf ($3) and golf ($40)

Register at your local senior center or visit https://torch.ncseniorgames.org.

For more information, contact Michael Patterson at 252.436.2040 ext. 6072 or Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 ext. 2036.

Find more information at www.kerrtarcog.org or www.facebook.com/KerrTarAAA/

John Graham Gym Will Open As Emergency Shelter For Warren Residents In Need

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— Information courtesy of Warren County

Warren County Emergency Services has activated the county’s emergency operations plan, in preparation for the winter storm expected to impact the area this weekend.

To support residents who may be affected by power outages or unsafe living conditions, Warren County will open a Central Emergency Shelter at the following location:

John Graham Gym
113 Wilcox Street
Warrenton, NC 27589

The shelter is scheduled to open on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. and will be open to the public. This shelter is intended for emergency situations only, including residents who lose power, lack adequate heating, or do not have a safe place to stay during the storm. Space will be limited, and residents are encouraged to seek shelter early if conditions worsen.

Individuals utilizing the shelter will be provided with a cot, a blanket, and nutritious meals, as available, based on current conditions and supply capabilities.

Residents should bring essential personal items such as medications, identification, and any special medical supplies they may require. While every effort will be made to accommodate needs, the shelter environment is designed for short-term emergency use.

Warren County Emergency Services will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates as necessary. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official county communication channels, Warren County Facebook, Warren County Emergency Service Facebook page and to limit travel during hazardous weather conditions.

For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergency information, residents may contact Warren County Emergency Services at 252.257.1191.

Safety Reminders For Drivers In Advance Of Predicted Cold, Icy Weekend

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— Information courtesy of the AAA

The area dodged last weekend’s “wintry mix,” but if forecasters are on target, this weekend is going to be different.

Folks no doubt will be heading to the grocery store for staples and more in advance of the weather system that is supposed to bring sleet, freezing rain and maybe a little snow beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing Sunday into Monday.

A winter storm watch is in effect for Vance and much of the state, beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing through Monday afternoon.

If you’re getting to the grocery store in your personal vehicle, now’s the perfect time to review AAA’s winter vehicle maintenance checklist to make sure your travels are safe travels all winter long, not just in snowy or icy conditions.

Tires: Check pressure weekly.

Battery:Test regularly; cold weather reduces power.

Fluids: Use winter-grade washer fluid; check antifreeze; change oil for winter viscosity.

Wipers & Defroster: Replace blades; ensure heater works.

Brakes & Lights:Inspect brakes; clean and check all lights.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 people are injured in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.

“Winter driving hazards such as slick ice, snow-covered roads, and reduced traction make braking and steering treacherous,’ said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Speeding, tailgating, and poorly maintained vehicles amplify the danger, so prepping your car with a strong battery and proper fluid levels is essential for safety.”

AAA lists the top reasons motorists call for roadside assistance in cold weather: dead batteries, tire issues, crashes or sliding off icy roads, running out of fuel and frozen locks.

Give your car’s battery the best chance to stay charged by parking it in a garage or sheltered area if possible, and make sure all the lights, seat warmers and other accessories are turned off before shutting off the engine.

If your car is slow to crank, it could be telling you that your battery is failing. It’s never too soon to have your battery tested, especially if it’s more than three years old.

Wright offered some reminders about staying safe if your car breaks down in traffic. “If your car stalls in traffic, act fast: turn on hazard lights, set the emergency brake, stay inside with doors locked, and call for roadside assistance immediately.” If staying in your vehicle puts you at risk – like if you’re stranded in heavy traffic or in a blind curve on a road, then move to a safe location and then call for help.

For those with electric vehicles, cold weather can slash EV range by up to 40 percent and slow charging. To conserve the battery:

Precondition Your Battery: Warm up the battery before driving by using the preconditioning feature while the car is still plugged in. This helps maintain range and efficiency.

Keep It Plugged In: Whenever possible, leave your EV plugged in overnight. This keeps the battery warm and prevents deep discharge in freezing temperatures.

Manage Charging:Charge more frequently in winter since range can drop significantly in cold weather – between 20 percent and 40 percent. Use Level 2 charging for faster replenishment and better battery health.

Optimize Cabin Heating: Use heated seats and steering wheel instead of blasting cabin heat—they consume less energy. Preheat the cabin while plugged in to avoid draining the battery on the road.

NC Dept of Agriculture

NCDA Announces Specialty Crops Grant Application

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— Information courtesy of the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant proposal applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Nonprofits, commodity associations, state and local government agencies, colleges and universities wishing to apply have until March 10 at 5 p.m.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is managed by the department and is subject to funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Traditionally, the program has received about $1.2 million to fund proposals.

A list of eligible crops can be found at What is a Specialty Crop? | Agricultural Marketing Service (https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop )

“We are fortunate in North Carolina that our farmers can grow just about any crop, which means specialty crops are a significant part of North Carolina’s $100 billion farm economy and one that we want to continue to see grow,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are looking for strong proposals that focus on boosting specialty crop production.”

The department will accept grant requests of up to $200,000 from the eligible groups listed above. Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Applicants can submit a draft application by Wednesday, Jan. 28, for review and feedback. Reviews offer no guarantee of funding and may be limited due to time and the number of requests.

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.

Local Guardian ad Litem Training Begins Jan. 13, 2026

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The local Guardian ad Litem program is a statewide program designed to place trained volunteers to serve as advocates for neglected or abused children going through the court system.

The next six-week training session begins on Jan. 13, 2026. Area Supervisor Samantha Branch, who serves the five-county region that includes Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties, is seeking additional volunteers who want to become advocates for this very important program.

Formed in 1983, the Guardian ad Litem program serves in all 100 counties in North Carolina and is a division of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.

According to information on its website, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer GAL advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child.

Program staff in each county work with the GAL child to provide support – legal and advocacy – to children as they go through the court process.

Advocates protect and promote the best interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court proceedings, as well as report the child’s wishes to the court. They also could contribute to independent investigations to determine the facts, the needs of the child and identify resources appropriate to each case.

Learn more about the program at https://www.nccourts.gov/programs/guardian-ad-litem.

If you think you’d like to become a trained Guardian ad Litem advocate, call 252.430.5121 or visit volunteerforgal.org.

(Information above originally posted Dec. 17, 2025)

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville – National Registry of Historic Places in Old Granville, Franklin & Warren

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Anyone interested in historical architecture and preservation of homes, businesses or other structures that have been around a really long time surely would have a field day in the four-county area. Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties are replete with buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which operates under the auspices of the National Parks Service.

If you’ve ever wondered how these homes, churches and other buildings get on “the list,” WIZS’s Bill Harris can provide a firsthand account: His family home is set to be included on the National Register in 2026.

Harris and local historian Mark Pace ran through a list of properties in Franklin and Warren counties on Wednesday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk.

One of the newest additions to the Warren County list is All Saints Episcopal Church, officially included in August 2025.

The church served the African American community in the Warrenton area beginning in the 1910’s. The famous Delany sisters – known for their longevity – have a connection to the stone veneer church; their father was pastor there in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Like so many of the historic structures you’ll find on “the list,” All Saints is still standing today. But, as Pace pointed out, “just because a house is on the national register doesn’t mean it will be preserved forever.”

The Little Manor is one such example of a home still listed but is now in ruins.

According to Pace, Warren County has 228 total structures listed on the National Register – 27 individual buildings and 202 included in the Warrenton historic district. Franklin County has 240 structures – 213 of which are situated in Louisburg’s historic district.

A structure must be nominated for inclusion on the National Register, so there needs to be an advocate of some sort to fill out and submit the paperwork that’s involved.

According to information on the National Parks Service website, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation that includes the property’s age, significance and integrity.

For all you Baby Boomers out there, don’t be shocked: a structure can be considered historic if it’s at least 50 years old.

But, Pace said, the list includes more than just homes or other structures that have been around for centuries. For instance, the Wheless home in Louisburg was built in the mid 1950’s.

It meets the age criteria – barely – but it’s the style of architecture – reminiscent of the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright – that put this relatively young home among other homes that have graced the landscape for centuries.

Franklin County has many entries on “the list,” but there are many more located in northern Franklin County than in the southern part of the county, Harris said.

One of the newer additions is the Pearce-Massey-Stallings in southern Franklin County. It was nominated about five years ago and Harris described it as a “handsome” house built in a couple of different sections, the older back part dating back to about 1820.

The front was added about 1910, but the property is also significant because of the large number of outbuildings that are still standing. It’s also remains in the family, Pace said.

Another example of generations of ownership by the same family of a historic property is Cassine, near Louisburg. Descendents of the original members of the Perry family retain ownership of this historic property, which dates back to the 1760’s.

Want to check out some of these examples of historic architecture? Arm yourself with a list available at https://www.hpo.nc.gov/ or bring along the county’s architectural survey and chances are you’ll wend your way by a good number of homes, churches – and if you’re in the Inez area of Warren County – even a fire tower, all considered worthy of inclusion on that NPS’s National Register of Historic Places.

Just remember to drive by – don’t trespass, Pace reminds.

“Most of us are proud of our old houses,” Harris said. So if you happen to see someone out in the yard when you’re driving by, it could be worth a try to stop in and say hello. You might end up getting a tour.

 

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NC State Board of Elections

State Board Of Elections Completes Random Process To Determine Order Of Candidates’ Names On 2026 Ballots

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— information from the N.C. State Board of Elections

State elections officials on Friday afternoon completed a two-step random process to determine how names of the upcoming ballots would appear. State law requires that the State Elections Board determine the order that names will appear on the ballots.

First, a ball was selected out of a bingo machine, with the letter on the ball corresponding with the first letter of the last name of the candidate to be listed first on the ballot. Second, a coin was flipped, with the side facing up corresponding to whether the candidates will be listed in alphabetical order (“heads”) or reverse alphabetical order (“tails”).

The letter on the ball selected from the bingo machine was the letter “F,” meaning candidates whose last names begin with the letter “F” will appear first in contests in the primary and general elections. The subsequent coin flip showed “tails” facing up, meaning that additional candidates will follow in alphabetical order as follows: F, E, D, C, B, A, Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q, P, O, N, M, L, K, J, I, H, G

This ballot order drawing applies to all 2026 primary and general election contests except for municipal contests. Candidates for municipal office are listed in strict alphabetical order beginning with A, according to state law.

The ballot order selection process was streamed live on Webex.

The 2026 primary election is March 3. The general election is Nov. 3.

 

Nash County Man Gets 20-Year Federal Prison Term For Selling Meth

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— information courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Nash County man to 20 years in federal prison for selling more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On February 14, 2024, Kenneth Orlin Simmons, Jr., age 36, pleaded guilty to these crimes.

“Drug dealers flood our communities with deadly methamphetamine and arm themselves with guns to violently carry out their trade. Criminals like this Big Shark Bad Boy pose a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This sentence sends a clear message: if you poison our communities and endanger the lives of our children and families, you will sit in a federal prison for a long time. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to shut down these operations, clean these villains off our streets, and protect the citizens.”

“Drugs destroy lives and tears apart communities, and when traffickers arm themselves, the danger only grows. I’m proud of the work our team put into holding this individual accountable and ensuring he can no longer victimize our citizens. A sincere thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, and the ATF for their hard work with this case,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court, in July 2022, Simmons sold over a kilogram of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Nash County. The Nash County Sherriff’s Office along with the DEA later obtained a search warrant for Simmons residence. During that search, law enforcement seized 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 1,000 grams of marijuana, a stolen Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun, an AR-15 rifle, a 29-round magazine with 22 .40 caliber rounds, and a 96-round drum magazine.

Simmons was previously convicted of felonies including two counts of felony abduction of children, and also of two counts of sexual battery.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, and the ATF investigated the case.

 

Warren County Gets More Than $1M From Golden LEAF To Extend Water Line To U.S. 1 Industrial Site

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Warren County has been awarded $1,087,460 in SITE funding to extend a waterline to the Hwy 1 Industrial Site from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

The money will be used for construction, engineering, due diligence and potential environmental remediation, county officials said.

According to Warren County Community and Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson, this award will fund a crucial water extension that will allow future development to occur at a faster rate.
“Having access to water along our entire industrial site increases our site competitiveness because it reduces the length of time and cost for a business to build on our site,” explained Perkinson. “We are thankful to Golden LEAF for awarding us the funding to increase our Hwy 1 Industrial Site’s competitiveness by limiting the amount of time an interested company can get to market.”

Golden LEAF accepts applications from organizations in all counties, but prioritizes awards within counties that have been persistently economically distressed (as demonstrated by County Tier status determined by the N.C. Department of Commerce) and in economically distressed, rural, and tobacco-dependent communities.

The Warren County award is part of $7.5 million in funding from the foundation. The Board awarded $1.2 million to support two projects through the Open Grants Program and another $1,222,460 to support three projects through its SITE Program. The Board also awarded additional funds for Hurricane Helene relief, the Disaster Recovery Grant Program, and the Shell Building Pilot Program.

“Today, the Board awarded funding for projects that will increase workforce preparedness, strengthen agriculture, help increase industrial site preparation and the availability of shell buildings, along with funding for hurricane and disaster relief efforts, all supporting rural communities across North Carolina,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF president and chief executive officer.

For more information about the Hwy 1 Industrial Site, email Perkinson at mckinleyperkinson@warrencountync.gov

For more information about Golden LEAF, visit GoldenLEAF.org.

Dec. 18 Groundbreaking For New Warren County Farmers Market

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— Information courtesy of Warren County government

Come out to the site of the new Warren County Farmers Market on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. for a groundbreaking ceremony, which county leaders say marks a major step forward in supporting local growers, strengthening agritourism, and expanding economic opportunities for residents and visitors.

The ceremony will be held at 429 W. Ridgeway St in Warrenton.

“Warren County is experiencing a remarkable season of momentum,” said Warren County Manager Crystal Smith. “This new farmers’ market will create a hub for local commerce, community events, and agricultural education. We are grateful for the support of our state partners, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with the people who call Warren County home.”

The project, made possible through major investments from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the North Carolina Department of Commerce, brings together local and state commitment to rural economic development. The new market will play a pivotal role in Warren County’s growth, leaders say, that will help to ensure local farmers have a vibrant, modern space to market their goods and that families have a welcoming, community-centered destination to shop, gather, and enjoy Warren County’s agricultural heritage.

The new facility will feature covered vendor areas, enhanced parking and accessibility, and space designed to accommodate future events and programs that support local businesses and promote healthy food choices for all residents.

Community members, local farmers, business owners, and regional partners are invited to join in and stay for a while as Warren County breaks ground on a project that celebrates its agricultural heritage while planting seeds for future economic growth.