Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Asparagus In Gardens
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One thousand points is a lot in the game of basketball and to achieve that level is a significant accomplishment, one that Israel Thorpe should be proud of. The senior Crossroads Christian point guard has now done that but she wasn’t aware of the milestone until her coach, Cammy Simmons, called a time out after her 1000th point. “I was focused on the game,” Thorpe said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. “The students were aware,” added Crossroads Athletic Director Scottie Richardson.
Her scoring milestone also points to her focus on and off the field. She has a 3.9 gpa to go along with her skills on the court. “If I’m not at the gym I’m doing school work,” Thorpe said. This doesn’t leave much time for a social life. “That’s OK with me because I’m bettering my life,” Thorpe added. After this year, Thorpe will be going to Cairn University near Pittsburgh to continue her basketball career.
Crossroads, who is seeded 4th in the state playoffs, is having their most successful season of girl’s basketball in school history. Previously the most wins had been nine but this season they have twenty-three victories and are hoping for a few more in the state playoffs. A championship to go along with the 1000 points would certainly make Thorpe’s senior year a memorable one.
Vance County High School had a very successful 2022 football campaign making it into the state playoff and two of the reasons why are senior wide receiver Israel Terry and defensive star Chris Jones. Both young men have signed letters of intent to play college ball, Terry at Winston-Salem State and Jones with Barton in Wilson.
“It feels like home,” Terry said of Winston-Salem State where he is considering majoring in either the business field or sports training. About the challenges of moving up to the college level Terry says, “I just need to stay focused and locked on goals. I’m just an athlete and I’ll do what the coaches ask.” Terry also said he expects to play receiver for Winston-Salem State. At some point, he may even have to face another Vance Co. graduate, his brother Noah, across the field. Noah plays cornerback for Shaw University.
Jones, who athletic director Ray Noel called modest, will be heading to Barton. While primarily a defensive player with the Vipers, he did play running back on offense but at Barton he will be focusing on defense. “I want to be where I can make the plays,” Jones said about his preference for offense of defense.
Both players say Vance County’s success on the football field comes down to buying into the program that Coach Aaron Elliot put together. It allowed the team to bond. “Vance County (High School) is on the rise,” Jones said.
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The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Departments has a long list of sports programs that are gearing up for spring and beyond. Jamal Williams spoke with WIZS’s Bill Harris Thursday on The Local Skinny! to run down just a few of the opportunities for children from 4 years all the way through high school.
Basketball tryouts will be held this weekend for two age groups – youngsters in grades 3-6 are invited to come out to the former Eaton-Johnson gymnasium Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.; youth in grades 7-9 will have their tryouts on Sunday, Feb. 19 starting at 2 p.m.
There is no fee for this program – and Williams said young people simply need “to show up with a great attitude ready to learn.”
For some, especially the younger children, this may be their first taste of playing organized basketball. Williams said he hopes to be able to form several teams according to age to travel outside Vance County for tournaments or games with similar teams.
“It’s more than just rec league,” Williams said, adding that it will give the players a chance to compete and play at a higher level. “We definitely want to prepare them for the next level,” he added, including school teams.
Tutoring sessions also will be offered to those who make the team – keeping up grades is part of being on the team.
If basketball isn’t your child’s favorite, try soccer. Registration is open now for the rec department’s soccer program. Register online at XX or visit the rec center in person by Mar. 26. The in-county registration fee is $40; out-of-county registrants pay $60, but Williams said a fee waiver is available for eligible children. The soccer league is open to children between the ages of 4 and 18.
But it’s not ALL about the children, Williams said. An adult kickball league is forming for the first time this spring – “I think it’s going to be a fun time,” he said. Players must be over 18 and each team needs a minimum of 10 players. Sign up a whole group or join individually and get assigned to a team. Call the rec department for details about fees and schedules. The plan is to have five teams, Williams said.
T-ball is a sport for children ages 4-6, and it’s a good first step to get them ready for baseball and softball, Williams said.
Last year, more than 100 children signed up for t-ball alone, Williams said, and he hopes to have that many again this year. Getting older youth involved in sports is a goal as well.
It’s hard to compete with video games and other demands that children have these days, but participating in sports is so much more than physical activity and playing games.
Williams said participating in sports builds character, teaches leadership, helps young people make connections and meet new friends, just for starters.
To learn more, contact Williams at 252.438.3408 or jamalwilliams@henderson.nc.gov
Visit https://henderson.nc.gov/departments/recreation_and_parks for a complete list of programs.
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Growing up in 4-H, Katie Haynes said, she got interested in showing rabbits, something she’s been doing now for 11 years now and still enjoys it.
“4-H really helped boost my public speaking skills and confidence levels,” Haynes said. She’s likely going to continue using those skills and more as she travels to Alabama this summer for a pageant competition.
But this isn’t just any pageant – Haynes is the 2022 Miss U.S. Agriculture People’s Choice winner. And she’s not done yet. She and others will be vying for division titles and ambassadorships for the agriculture group, which means making appearances near and far to be speak up for agriculture.
In fact, Haynes is in California this week for the World Ag Expo. She was on her way to an orange farm when John C. Rose caught up with her by phone to talk about the road to Enterprise, AL and a pageant that she and other young women will be competing in this summer.
The contestants achieve different levels through attendance at events and through raising money. Haynes represented Granville County in the 2021 Miss U.S. Agriculture pageant and took home the people’s choice award in 2022.
And although she lives in southern Granville County, she seems to do a fair amount of traveling within the state and outside the state to lend support to causes like AgrAbility, a federal program that operates through N.C. Cooperative Extension.
AgrAbility helps provide support to veterans, the elderly and disabled persons that allow them to get back into agriculture, despite physical challenges or limitation – “get people back to what they love.”
Haynes herself uses a wheelchair, having been diagnosed with chronic illness when she was a teenager. She’s glad to be a role model for others, she said, offering them a true picture of inclusion.
“My platform is to educate people to make sure everybody has a place in agriculture,” Haynes explained.
Whether she’s exploring orange farms in California or photographing livestock (another favorite pastime), Haynes said it’s been wonderful to meet such a diverse group of people who share a love of agriculture.
“I’ve been able to connect with a lot of different types of people in agriculture,” she said. “And it feels like one big family.”
What else is in store for this dynamic young lady?
She said she’d love to become a motivational speaker.
Watch out, world. Here comes Katie Haynes.
Find Haynes’s nonprofit organization, “Smiling While Sending Hope” on Facebook and Instagram.
Sponsorships for Katie’s upcoming competition help defray costs for hotels, gas and for the dresses that are being created for the pageant.
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SportsTalk: WIZS and Bill Dinicola remember Jeff Charles.
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