Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Today’s segment focuses on compost, but serves as a counterpart for Wayne’s recent recording. Specifically, I speak about some dangers to avoid.
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Editor’s note: WIZS News asked the 13 candidates – four incumbents and nine challengers – in the upcoming Henderson City Council election to respond to a series of questions that will be aired on WIZS and published on wizs.com in advance of the beginning of early voting for the Oct. 7 election.
Early voting begins on Thursday, Sept. 18 and ends on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Of those 13 candidates, WIZS received seven responses before the stated deadline of Friday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.
The following candidates responded:
Ward 1 at-large:
Ward 2 at-large:
Ward 3:
Ward 4:
The WIZS team has compiled the responses from the candidates and they will appear in their entirety, unedited on the radio and on the website.
Visit https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/ to view a complete listing of candidates for the four seats in the upcoming nonpartisan municipal election.
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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Composting can benefit your garden and landscape.
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The Middleburg Baptist Church Brotherhood is having a barbecue plate fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Justin Simmons, a member of the men’s group that is organizing the event, said plates will be ready for pick up beginning at 12 noon. The cost is $15 and includes baked beans, potato salad, slaw, bread and homemade desserts – courtesy of the church’s Women on Missions group.
The church is located at 80 N. Plummer Ave. in Middleburg.
Simmons said the goal is to provide at least 250 plates – just come on out to the church with cash or a check to pick up the plates.
Proceeds from the fundraiser help the Brotherhood provide financial support to local ministries including Rebuilding Hope, Inc., as well as providing school supplies for E.O. Young Elementary and providing gifts to needy children at Christmas.
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The Henderson-Vance Black Leadership caucus met Saturday, Sept. 6 to hear from candidates in the upcoming municipal elections and then offer endorsements.
There are four seats on the Henderson City Council up for grabs in the Oct. 7 election. Early voting in one week, Thursday, Sept. 18.
The at-large seats in Ward 1 and Ward 2 are on the ballot, as are the Wards 3 and 4 seats.
The caucus endorsed Geraldine Champion for the Ward 1 at-large seat, and incumbents Lamont Noel for the Ward 2 at-large seat, Garry Daeke for Ward 3 and Ola Thorpe-Cooper for Ward 4.
Caucus President Terry Garrison said he was pleased with how things turned out – the candidates in attendance thoughtfully answered questions posed to them and the audience was attentive and respectful.
Former judge and current Oxford City Commissioner S. Quon Bridges served as moderator. “I think his presence made a difference as well,” Garrison said.
Garrison said the voting members of the caucus went into a special session to consider which candidates to endorse and then returned to announce the endorsements.
The Ward 1 at large contest was very close, Garrison said. Geraldine Champion got the endorsement with 8 votes over challenger Kenia Gómez-Jimenez with 7 and incumbent Sara Coffey with 6.
“It doesn’t get much closer than that,” Garrison said.
Champion currently holds the Ward 1 seat, but filed for the at-large seat during the most recent filing period. Another challenger, Clementine “Tina” Hunter was absent from the forum. She didn’t receive any votes from the caucus.
Following is a breakdown of votes for the other three contests awarded by the caucus:
Ward 2 at large:
Incumbent Lamont Noel – 15 votes
George Mayo – 6 votes
Ward 3:
Incumbent Garry Daeke – 13 votes
Deryl vonWilliams – 5 votes
Jason Spriggs – 2 votes
Clifford High – 0 votes
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Vance County’s annual meeting to discuss the state of opioid and substance use is scheduled for Monday, September 22 beginning at 4 p.m. in the county administration building.
The meeting date was changed from September 16 to September 22.
Participants will hear a progress report concerning Vance County’s share of the opioid settlement funds – about $2.4 million so far – and they’ll also get a chance to provide input about how to spend that money.
So far, Vance County hasn’t spent any of its allocation.
During the commissioners’ work session on Monday, Aug. 18, County Manager C. Renee Perry said, “We definitely need to start spending some funds.” Recalling advice she said she’d received from her professional association, “Don’t necessarily be in a rush when you spend your money, just make sure it’s beneficial to your community.”
Perry told commissioners that she’d like to see the county’s Opioid Committee expanded to include representatives from other area agencies and organizations.
Perry said, “I think it should be more than just three commissioners.” Originally, Commissioners Yolanda Feimster, Carolyn Faines and former Commissioner Sean Alston made up the committee.
At Monday’s work session, commissioners agreed by consensus to have Commissioners Dan Brummitt, Charisse Fain and Feimster serve on the committee.
Perry said she will work to get representatives from the health department, law enforcement and the courts system added.
The county sent out a request Tuesday for service providers, community organizations and people with “lived experiences” to complete applications that will be reviewed for possible appointment at the October commissioners’ meeting. The committee could have somewhere between 9 and 15 members.
Perry said she would then push for an initial meeting of the committee sometime in October.
The opioid committee serves only in an advisory capacity, Perry said, and would be offering recommendations to commissioners who ultimately will decide how to spend the money.
Some counties have funded positions and others have issued requests for proposals for programs that align with local priorities to combat the opioid crisis.
Granville County, for example, has partially funded a position within the Granville-Vance Health District. Halifax and Edgecombe counties funded community paramedic positions, Perry said. Another county has established a co-responder model and others have created peer services and support for improved access for people who can’t afford transportation and treatment.
The $2.4 million is part of what will be at least a $6.3 million funding stream to Vance County from the multi-billion opioid settlement through 2038. North Carolina’s portion of the settlement is about $1.4 billion.
Applications for the opioid committee may be obtained at https://www.vancecounty.org/or by contacting Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to the Board at kgrissom@vancecounty.org. Please submit completed applications to 122 Young St., Suite B, Henderson, NC 27536 or kgrissom@vancecounty.org.
Visit https://ncopioidsettlement.org/ to learn more about the opioid settlement funding plan.
(The text above and audio below was originally posted here Aug. 20, 2025. The bold text at the top of the post and the headline were updated Sept. 10, 2025.)
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On September 8, 2025, at approximately 5:34 p.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the 1600 block of North Garnett Street regarding a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers observed signs that an individual had been injured. A sixteen-year-old juvenile was located and treated by EMS at the scene for a non-life-threatening wound. The juvenile was transported to a local medical facility for further treatment.
Through further investigation, it was determined that the injury sustained by the juvenile was self-inflicted.
During the course of the investigation, officers observed a black Honda Accord leaving the area at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was stopped a short time later by deputies with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office near 2101 North Garnett Street. Four individuals were detained from the vehicle: two 17-year-old juveniles, Kyriek Alston (19), and Rashad Gray (18).
Investigators discovered that one of the juveniles and Alston were in possession of heroin. Gray was found to be in possession of marijuana. Henderson Police Department Investigators responded to assist deputies and took custody of the individuals. Two firearms were also recovered during the investigation, one is believed to have been used in this incident, and the other was confirmed to have been reported stolen.
Charges filed to date include:
This case remains under active investigation.
The Henderson Police Department extends its appreciation to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for their proactive response and assistance in this matter.
— Henderson Police Department Press Release
