Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: 06/11/25

TownTalk from 06/11/25. Thank you for listening.

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The Local Skinny! ‘Make Music Day’ featuring Jimmy & The Sound Barriers

Throw your lawn chairs in the car and head out to Kerr Lake Country Club on Saturday, June 21 to celebrate “Make Music Day” for an open jam session with Jimmy and the Sound Barriers.

The event is the culminating activity to a day full of music throughout the county, promoted by the Vance County Arts Council and the NC Arts Council, said Jimmy Barrier on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Food and beverages will be available for purchase for the concert, which runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“I’m going to have a core band,” Barrier said, but he’s opening up the stage to others who want to join in and sing. “Gospel, country, R & B – if we know it – we’ll be glad to play it for you,” Barrier added.

“We’re just going to have a great time,” he said. “Just come on out and listen to some music. If you’ve ever wanted to come out and sing, we’ll play it and you sing it.”

Barrier, who plays stand-up bass, will be joined by Keith Aiken on dobro, J.W. Sanders on banjo and Chip Dixon, guitarist and vocalist.

Kerr Lake Country Club is located at 600 Hedrick Dr., Henderson, NC 27537

Visit https://vanceartscouncil.com/event/make-music-day-saturday-june-21-2025/ to learn more.

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TownTalk: Faith in Mental Health

When he was serving in the N.C. House as District 32 representative, Frank Sossamon introduced a bill to create a faith-based initiative on substance abuse and mental health.

He served one term in the House, and his bill didn’t get through the Senate to become law, but Sossamon was undeterred.

In partnership with Granville Vance Public Health, Vaya Health and N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Sossamon’s “Faith in Mental Health” initiative is gathering steam to involve churches in Vance and Granville counties to combat issues surrounding substance abuse and mental health.

Two orientation sessions are scheduled – Monday, June 23 at West End Baptist Church in Henderson and Monday, June 30 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center in Oxford – to kick off a three-part program to give churches information about resources available to them and to the community. Each session will last from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sossamon said in speaking with various church leaders about developing the initiative, he said more often than not, they didn’t know what services and resources are available when it comes to mental health and substance abuse issues.

“That’s the sad thing, not only they don’t know,” he said of those church representatives, “the average person doesn’t know.”

This is where the orientation sessions can help, he said. During these initial meetings, participants will complete the first of three levels of involvement.

“Level 1 is the most basic level, but maybe one of the most effective,” Sossamon said. Participants will learn about the different agencies in their county and hear from some representatives about the services they provide and how to access them.

Churches participating at this level also will agree to highlight a different topic each month in the Sunday service bulletin or newsletter, for example.

Pastors will be encouraged to preach a sermon on that topic or discuss it during a weekly Sunday School session.

Hearing about mental health or substance abuse from the pulpit or in a Sunday School class help to demystify the issues, he said. “That in itself brings healing,” he said.

Level 2 participating churches will agree to have quarterly forums on mental health issues, and Sossamon said he would encourage several churches to join forces and have one forum. There are speakers who are willing to take part in the forums and plenty of resources available to share with churches, he noted.

“It just has such great promise,” Sossamon said.

Level 2 churches also would establish a library to offer reading material related to mental health.

Those churches that wish to meet Level 3 criteria would be willing to complete more clinical training sessions to get certified. From suicide prevention training to mental health first aid, Sossamon said these trainings are “a little more intense.”

Contact Sossamon at pastorfrank1954@gmail.com to learn more.

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Japanese Beetles

On the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report from Michael Ellington:

We discuss Japanese beetles and how to manage them. Also included are reminders for upcoming pesticide courses and Master Gardener training.
This links to a registration page for an upcoming commercial pesticide training course.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Mrs. Lula Shearin’s 75th Birthday Celebration Concert

Jordan Shearin got a big hint from his grandmother, Mrs. Lula Shearin, about what she wanted for her birthday. It’s not the sort of present that can be wrapped in pretty paper with big bow, however.

Mrs. Lula Shearin is getting a gospel concert for her 75th birthday, and it’s open to all in the community to enjoy.

The program will be held on Saturday, July 5 at White’s Grove Christian Church, 328 St. Tammany Rd in Norlina. The doors open at 3 p.m. and the concert will begin at 4 p.m. Pastor Daryn Thomas is the emcee, and numerous groups are scheduled to perform.

“She’s been talking about it since last year,” Jordan Shearin said. “I said, ‘OK, Grandma, I’m going to make it happen for you.’”

Jordan, one of Shearin’s four grandsons, said his grandmother’s actual birthday is July 1. The concert isn’t a surprise, he said, but it will be something that shows how much she means to her family and to the community.

“She’s honorable, she’s humble…so sweet in her own way, and everybody loves her,” Jordan said. “She does a lot for people,” and he said this is a way “to give her her flowers while she can smell them.”

He called his relationship with his grandmother “like no other. My grandma helped my mom raise me,” he said, and she still takes time to help him when he needs it.

“She paved the way for me,” and the concert is a way for him to let her know how much she means to the family.

“There is nothing like a grandmother’s love. I love her dearly and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her at all. This will make her feel real special.”

Groups scheduled to perform are Faithful, The Gospel Disciples, The Terain Family, Men of Faith, The Gospel Harmoneers, Sister Shirley McCaden & Co. and The Soul Lifters.

Contact Jordan Shearin at 252.820.5878 to learn more.

Mrs. Shearin’s children are Julian Smith, Diane Shearin-Terry and Roberta Shearin. In addition to Jordan, her grandchildren are Deshawn Smith, Julian Smith,III and Jeremy Smith.

Mrs. Shearin also has one great-grandchild, Ariana Smith.

She has three living siblings: Robert Seward, Emmanuel Seward and Elizabeth Williams and she was married to Elijah Shearin, Jr.

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