Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Edmonds Tennis and Education Foundation $1k Scholarships/Mentors

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On Saturday, June 13, the Edmonds Tennis and Education Foundation celebrated its scholarship recipients and honored its donors with an evening of outdoor dining.

Edmonds Tennis and Education Foundation (ETEF) goes beyond traditional youth programs by integrating tennis, education and nutrition to provide a more holistic approach to development here in rural North Carolina.

Not only is a scholarship recipient better off financially for their next step, by being in ETEF they have a permanent home base of mentors and are particularly paired up with a mentor for their first year after graduation.

Since forming as a non-profit in 2018, over 3,000 students have participated in ETEF tennis and education programs.

President Dr. Jerry Edmonds told WIZS, “This past Saturday, due to generous private donations, ETEF awarded academic scholarships of $1,000 each to six college bound area high school graduates.”

He said, “The biggest takeaway was the amazing accomplishments of the six students and their future aspirations to serve others through careers including Nursing, Law, STEM and Ministry.”

Keynote speaker Kelly Gaines, executive director of the NC Tennis Association (USTA North Carolina) delivered an inspiring speech, according to Edmonds, highlighting the importance of mentorship throughout one’s career. Kelly encouraged the students to begin forming their personal board of directors, consisting of experienced leaders who can help them navigate their careers.

This past Friday, June 12, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce presented its most recent Member Spotlight to ETEF and President and Founders Dr. Jerry Edmonds and spouse Dorcel Edmonds. The Chamber said, “Through tennis, students learn discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and confidence—skills that extend far beyond the court. By pairing athletic opportunities with educational support and character-building experiences, the Foundation helps youth unlock their full potential, pursue their goals, and become leaders in their communities.”

Edmonds Tennis offers tennis clinics for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced training.

For youth tennis camps or to learn more, visit www.edmondstennis.org or call (833) 751-5400.

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The Local Skinny! Dinosaurs Roam Over Perry Memorial Library

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The Summer Reading Program has kicked-off at Perry Memorial Library and Youth Services Librarian, Melody Peters has the community prepared and excited for what’s to come this summer.

To start off the program, children can head to the library to see Rupert! A Dinosaur that the library staff has been working diligently on since planning began for the program just over a month ago. Children can also pick up their summer reading log to fill out as the summer moves on.

Rupert ties into the summer reading theme “Unearthing A Story,” Peters told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

In addition to the start of the summer reading program, Donuts with Dad will make its way to the Library as children, along with their Dad, Granddads, or Father Figures, take part in a morning filled with delicious donuts, a Dinomite storytime, and quality time with Dad on Saturday June 20th from 10:30am-11:30am.

Then on Sunday, which is also Father’s Day, join Perry Memorial Library for a musical celebration! When the library participates in Make Music Day at the library from 1:30pm-3pm. Hands-on activities including a make-and-take egg shaker will be included.

Tuesday, June 23rd will be filled with activities for everyone as the Big Bang Boom! Group from Greensboro will head to the library for some educational children’s music that is sure to be a good time!

Later that day at 4pm and 6pm, Donna Washington, a well-known, multiple award winning storyteller artist and author, will inspire and entertain her audience with performances made possible by a grant from the Vance County Arts Council.

“We are so grateful for our partners,” Peters said. “We have so many people to thank.”

Visit the library’s website at www.perrylibrary.org to learn more.

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Japanese Beetles

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

This segment gives tips on how to control Japanese Beetles before reminding listeners that the Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays.

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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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Composting

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Composting can be easy to do and it will improve your soil.

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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Trout Plate Fundraiser for “Night to Shine” June 22nd at 220 Seafood

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Who: Brick Power Team

What: Fish Plate Fundraiser

When: June 22nd from 4-7 p.m.

Where: 220 Seafood Restaurant, 1812 N. Garnett St., Henderson, NC

Why: To help the “Night to Shine” program associated with North Henderson Baptist Church for children with special needs.

Additional Details: Trout Plates are $11. Each plate includes trout, fries, slaw & hushpuppies. Pickup only. Tickets will be available or can be purchased at 220 Seafood the day of the event. Contact Harry Orr for more information at (252) 432-4196 or horr2553@yahoo.com.

Orr said he went to North Henderson Baptist and observed some of the work North Henderson does with special needs children. He said to be a church of any size “that would take the time to do this, it means a whole lot. And they just put it on my heart to help them out.”

Orr told WIZS about the children having a good time and feeling like part of the community and feeling like part of the world and enjoying things. “And that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

When he joined his church, Freedom Life Church, Orr said, “We established the weightlifting team.  We started to use that and using events for fundraisers, the money we raised, (to) go ahead (to) try to make a difference in people’s lives that need help.”

He said the Brick Power Team has a vision to help others.

Orr told WIZS this fundraiser also will be connected with what is raised during another event later, a bench press event in September for the “Night to Shine” for special needs children and others in the North Henderson Baptist Church program.

Please enjoy more of the interview with Orr by clicking play!

(This post was originally made on June 9, 2026.)

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Emergency Meeting Wednesday Regarding City Manager

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Editor’s Note: “The City of Henderson and The City Council and Staff” TownTalk broadcast was added June 11 just below. Click Play to listen. The written report of the City’s emergency meeting follows the audio and was posted June 10, 2026.

When the Henderson City Council met Wednesday to hold an emergency meeting, it took formal action regarding the city manager’s employment, and that action came in three parts based ultimately on three separate motions made by Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker.

The employment contract for City Manager Paylor Spruill was terminated. Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department Director Kendrick Vann, who has been an assistant to the city manager, was made interim city manager until the city can find a permanent manager. The assistant to the city manager position that Vann had been occupying was eliminated.

With all eight members of the City Council present, the board took action to, as City Attorney Dan Hertzog put it, memorialize the action which stemmed from Monday night’s closed session.

In the matter of ending Spruill’s contract, the council voted 4 to 4, with the tie broken by Mayor Melissa Elliott to end the contract. Similarly, the council voted 4 to 4 to appoint Vann as the interim manager, with Mayor Elliott casting the tie breaking vote in favor of Vann holding the position. As to the matter of Vann’s previous position of assistant to the city manager, the vote was unanimous to eliminate the position.

Overall, the proceedings were necessarily formal to protect the release of any personnel information. It also became necessary for the council to go into a closed session for about 20 minutes.

The net result of the meeting is virtually the same as what members of the community have been talking about for several days.

Voting for Walker’s motion to end Spruill’s contract, which was seconded by Geraldine Champion, were Champion, Michael Venable, Catherine Gill and Walker. Voting against the motion to end Spruill’s contract were Sam Seifert, Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Garry Daeke.

Voting for Walker’s motion to appoint Vann as interim manager until a permanent manager is selected, which was seconded by Venable, included Champion, Venable, Gill and Walker. Voting against the motion to appoint Vann as interim manager were Gomez-Jimenez, Noel, Seifert and Daeke.

To open the proceedings, Hertzog said, “So at the last meeting we had a closed session discussion, which I cannot reveal the closed session discussion, but pursuant to general statute … any final action on a personnel matter needs to be taken in open session.

“So we will need to vote consistent … with the board’s discussion on Monday night. That needs to be memorialized in a vote in open session. So that’s why we’re here today.”

The council went through the necessary steps to get its wording right and to hear and vote on the correct motions to accomplish the task at hand, which at one point included withdrawing a single, initial motion and breaking it into three parts so the result was clean and clear.

Click Play if you would like to hear more WIZS Radio coverage of the City Council and the budget from before the meeting.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Survival Mode

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We continue our series titled, “Money, Manhood, and Fatherhood”. We discuss in part 3 of this series on how we deal with being in survival mode when it comes to our finances.

Come out to the Vance County Regional Farmers Market this Saturday, June 13th for the Supporting Father Involvement Community Day at 210 Southpark Drive from 5pm-8pm.

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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