Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Candidate Participation in the Upcoming Election

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As part of its continuing effort to keep listeners and readers up-to-date on local issues, WIZS Radio has sent candidates a list of questions in an effort to gather responses to be included in a special elections project that will be published and aired before the early voting period begins.

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Campaign signs are popping up along roadsides and in people’s yards, indicators that early voting for the upcoming Henderson municipal elections are not far off. Registered voters can cast ballots during the early-voting period at 500 N. Beckford Drive beginning Thursday, Sept. 18. Early voting continues Sat. Oct. 4.

Tuesday, Oct. 7 is the official Election Day, when voters will determine four seats on the eight-member City Council.

The Council Ward 1 at-large seat includes not one, but two incumbents – Council member Sara Coffey is seeking re-election, and Council member Geraldine Champion, who has the Ward 1 seat until the 2027 elections, has added her name as an at-large candidate. Newcomer Kenia Gomez-Jimenez and Clementine “Tina” Hunter also filed as candidates for the at-large seat.

Ward 2 at-large Council Member Lamont Noel is seeking to defend his seat against challengers Benjamin Buckner and George Mayo, although Buckner suspended his campaign Aug 28 and endorsed Noel.

In the contest for the Ward 3 seat, incumbent Garry Daeke faces Clifford “Cliff” High, former Council Member Jason Spriggs and Deryl “Ms. Dee” vonWilliams.

And in the Ward 4 contest, incumbent Ola Thorpe-Cooper faces challengers Catherine “Kitty” Gill and Fred Robertson.

Anyone who lives in the city and still needs to register to vote has until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 to do so.

The N.C. State Board of Elections has issued a press release with details and requirements about voter registration.

“To vote in a municipal election, you must be a resident of the municipality. Working within city, town, or village limits does not make a voter eligible to vote in municipal elections. Similarly, while a voter’s postal address may indicate a municipality, that does not always mean their residence is within the incorporated boundaries of the municipality,” the press release stated.

Eligible individuals who miss the regular registration deadlines may register and vote at the same time during the in-person early voting period at any early voting site in their county.

Eligible individuals have many options to register to vote, including the following:

Individuals with a North Carolina’s driver’s license or other NCDMV identification may submit a voter registration application online. Learn more at Complete Your Registration Online Through the DMV. Eligible individuals may also register in person at DMV offices.

Eligible individuals may also register to vote when applying for services at a number of state agencies. Learn more at National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

Any eligible resident can complete a Voter Registration Application in English or Spanish on paper and return it to their county board of elections office by 5 p.m. the day of the deadline:

There are 450 voters living throughout Vance County who need to provide additional information to the N.C. State Board of Elections to complete their voter registration, according to information from the SBE’s Registration Repair Project.

Individuals with incomplete voter registrations have received, or will receive, letters stating that they need to provide additional information – their driver license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number – to update their registration.

This can be done in several different ways, including by mail, in person at their county Board of Elections office or by visiting the NCDMV secure website payments.ncdot.gov. There is no fee associated with the online method and updating will not be made over the phone.

Check to see if your name is on the list at ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair.

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Meeting 9-8-25

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The Henderson City Council voted Monday to accept the resignation of City Manager/Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry – effective immediately – and appointed Paylor Spruill as interim city manager.

The Council also voted 6-1 to censure Council Member Geraldine Champion for violation of the city’s social media policy.

The regular monthly meeting had gone on for about two hours before Council voted to go into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

Upon returning to open session, Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott announced that the Council had voted unanimously to accept the resignation of the city manager/city attorney, which originally was submitted at the August meeting and then rescinded at a subsequent special called meeting.

Elliott also said that the city would seek guidance from the N.C. League of Municipalities with regard to the city attorney position.

The vote to censure Champion was 6-1, with Council Member Michael Venable casting the dissenting vote. Champion recused herself from the vote.

Champion appeared in Vance County Superior Court at 9:30 Tuesday morning regarding a no-contact order filed by Charles J. Turrentine, Jr. on Aug. 21. That case was continued until Oct. 2, according to information from Turrentine to WIZS News, and the judge recused himself.

In speaking to Council members Monday, Turrentine asked for a formal censure as well as assurances that he and his family be protected from future encounters – verbal or otherwise – from Champion.

Council Member Sam Seifert made the motion to publicly censure Champion, which was seconded by Council Member Lamont Noel.

Referring to the city’s policy about social media postings by elected officials, Seifert reminded the Council that adoption of that policy some months ago was “as a result of an action of our colleague, Ms. Champion.”

Seifert said he’d reviewed the policy, Turrentine’s letter to Kingsberry and to City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell and said he was satisfied that there was a violation of “some of the conduct standards that we, this body, set.

“I’ve seen enough. I don’t need to see the video itself – I think these comments, we’ve got quotes on them – that’s enough for me to publicly censure Council Woman Champion,” Seifert said before making the motion.

Other action from the Council on Monday included:

  • Approval of a rezoning request for the former fairgrounds property on Andrews Avenue. The property had been rezoned to multi-family last year, but Arpan Makam with the Raleigh development group making the request said the residential mixed-use zoning included in the city’s updated UDO plan would be a better fit for future development of the property. Plans would “reorient” the potential development and would blend housing with locally focused businesses. He painted a picture that includes greenspace, a dog park, walking areas and pickle ball court. “It brings new life to that part of town – we’re not trying to change the character of the area; we’re trying to strengthen it. Council Member Michael Venable made a motion to approve, with a second by Council Member Ola Thorpe-Cooper and the motion passed unanimously.
  • Downtown Director Tracy Madigan asked Council’s approval to apply for grant funding to make improvements downtown, including purchase of new Christmas banners, five new trash cans and solar lights for the trunks of some of the trees located in the downtown district. The banners and the brackets needed to hang them will cost about $7,000, the trash receptacles – which will match the ones already placed downtown – will cost about $4,250 and the solar lights have a price tag of about $3,700. The request or funding will be made to the N.C. Community Foundation’s Frances Abbot Burton Powers fund, which was established in 2012 to support programs that benefit the city of Henderson.

Click play to hear our audio from September 9th, 2025 after the Henderson City Council Meeting!

Click Play to hear our audio from September 8th, 2025 before the Henderson City Council Meeting!

The Local Skinny! FVW Opportunity Receives $40,000 Grant From SECU Foundation

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Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. (FVWOPP) announces it has received a $40,000 Mission Development Grant from the SECU Foundation to strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability in support of programs serving Henderson and the region.

Abdul Sm Rasheed, CEO/Advisor, FVWOP said, “We celebrate yet another triumph with honor as a recipient of the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Mission Development Grant. As one of fourteen  recipients, we are extremely grateful for this opportunity and partnership with SECU. This $40,000 grant, is an investment and a significant catalyst to a new partnership for FVWOPP as we continue to build capacity and sustainability to advance our organizational infrastructure to maximize successful outcomes.”

A ceremonial check presentation was held Wednesday, September 4 at 2 p.m. at FVW OPP Headquarters, 180 S. Beckford Drive.

Franklin Vance Warren Opportunity, Inc. is a community-focused organization dedicated to advancing opportunity, improving economic mobility, and supporting families across Henderson and surrounding communities.

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Fall Lawn Treatments

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

This week we’re offering a timely reminder of fall lawn treatments. Also mentioned are opportunities for pesticide license holders to gain education credits.

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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TownTalk: Rebuilding Hope BBQ Chicken Fundraiser Coming Up September 26

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Plans for Rebuilding Hope’s Sept. 26 chicken plate fundraiser are well underway, and Co-Director Tom Wille said patrons are invited to pick up plates at the drive-thru, or they are welcome to park, come inside and visit for a while as they enjoy their meal.

One quick note: the price has gone up to $12 a plate, but customers can expect the same delicious food – half a chicken, potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert. The sale is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We still think it’s a very fair price,” Wille said on Monday’s TownTalk.

With the cost of everything going up – from the food to lumber, Wille said making the price adjustment was necessary.

“The cost of doing what we do has risen also,” he said. “We’re trying to keep up with the times.”

Rebuilding Hope, located at 414 Raleigh Rd, helps the community in many ways, including building wheelchair ramps and making repairs to homes in Vance County and beyond.

The nonprofit holds fundraisers to help purchase the lumber needed to construct the ramps and stairs that help people get in and out of their homes safely.

Wille said folks can order their plates ahead of time, and businesses can have five or more plates delivered. Call the office at 252.438.5132 to place your advance order.

One addition to this fundraiser is called Scraps to Treasure, Wille said.

“One of our steady volunteers is very handy,” he said, referring to Larry Leach, who creates items like planters, candlesticks and other decorative items from leftover wood.

“We bring all our leftover scraps from a job site and so many times they end up in the landfill,” Wille said.

Leach takes this “pile of scraps” and he turns them into treasures, he said.

It’s a way to put a few more dollars out into the community, Wille said, but it also diverts scrap wood out of the waste stream.

Visit rebuildinghopeinc.org to learn more about the services the Rebuilding Hope offers and to see a sample of the objects offered in the Scraps to Treasure program.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Fire Ants In The Landscape

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Fire Ants can be controlled using ant bait.

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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