Get ready for the Henderson Christmas parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. in downtown Henderson.
The holiday spirit will fill the streets as floats, cars and marching groups – all decorated for the festivities – delight onlookers.
Want to participate? You’ve got to fill out an entrant application beforehand. Contact Alice Sallins to learn how at 252.767.4579.
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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Gill Clopton gave his time, talent and energy to shine a positive light on his community. He scanned tens of thousands of photos, documents as a way to preserve those bits of history and memories, file by file.
But friends who remember Clopton, who died Monday at the age of 61, have memories of him dropping by with a single photo of interest, covering high school sports and ringing the bell by the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas.
A visitation for Clopton will be held at Sossamon Funeral Home tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a funeral service Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Salvation Army on Ross Mill Road.
The Vance County Historical Society is collecting money to help purchase a marker for Clopton, according to Mark Pace, as a small way to show appreciation for all the work Clopton did on behalf of the historical society and for the genealogical society. Send checks or money orders made out to Vance County Historical Society, 11 E. Spring St., Oxford, NC 27565, with
“Memorial Fund for Gill Clopton” in the memo line. Or call 919.603.5182.
Pace said that he and Clopton both were Class of 1979 graduates of Vance Senior High School, and although their paths crossed when they lived and worked in Raleigh years ago, it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that the two discovered their shared enthusiasm for history.
“I’ve talked to him practically every day for the last ten years,” Pace said, recalling moments when they would ask each other obscure questions about local history.
Pace estimated that Clopton probably scanned as many as 60,000 photos, many from the local newspaper, but others from private sources and from other local agencies like the Henderson Police Department.
While talking on Thursday’s TownTalk, Pace and Bill Harris praised Clopton’s efforts and diligence to the ongoing archiving project.
“I feel very confident that the work he’s done…it will be out there and people can have access to it,” Pace said.
“Gill had the inclination to do it, he had the time to do it…and he had the meticulousness to want to sit there and want to do hours of work,” often tedious and monotonous.
“I can’t tell you how much people in the future will benefit from the work that Gill did,” Pace said.
Local and state officials were on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park Thursday to officially begin construction of a shell building on that campus.
“It’s a great day to see some dirt moving,” said Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen to the small group assembled on the chilly, blustery afternoon.
“This project is really about partnerships,” McMillen continued. From the city’s water and sewer extension and the nonprofit industrial park board that oversees the property to the county that is paying the bills and financing the project, McMillen said it would not be possible to build and grow without this multi-agency collaboration.
“This is a day we have anticipated for some time,” said Vance County Board of Commissioners Chair Leo Kelly. Having a shell building ready to be finished out by incoming industry puts Vance County in strong competition with other counties as companies look to locate or relocate their operations.
State legislators Lisa Barnes and Frank Sossamon, each coming off wins in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, were on hand for the ceremony. County Commissioner Tommy Hester credited Barnes for helping Vance County secure the funding for the shell building, but also for her role in getting $5 million for water projects in Henderson.
Hester also is president of the industrial park board. “Lisa stepped up and said ‘What can I do to help Vance County,’” Hester said, adding that whenever anyone asks that question, he is not shy to answer.
He said there could be a building on the site as early as January. “If you build it, they will come,” Hester told the group.
The Vance County Vipers were eliminated from the state high school football playoffs last week by Southern Durham, but the Vipers have nothing to be ashamed of after finishing 7-4. According to Coach Aaron Elliott, turnovers and weather were factors in the loss. Some of the turnovers were weather related as rain continued on and off throughout the game. Elliott also said some questionable calls were likely a factor as well. “We had a fumble recovery for a touchdown that was called back by an early whistle,” Elliott said. “It’s all part of the game,” he continued.
The Vipers will lose 14 seniors, but Elliott feels that will be overcome by incoming players from the JV squad next season. Additionally, his coaching philosophy will have a whole off-season to be absorbed by players both new and returning. “We play together as a family. When your players trust and believe in you they will do anything,” Coach Elliott said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk with Bill Harris and George Hoyle.
With both running backs and the entire offensive line returning, the Vipers will have an excellent core for the 2023 season.
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Join the Louisburg Historic District Inc. on a candlelight Christmas tour of homes and churches and other buildings on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Tickets are $50 each and must be purchased in advance, according to Bobby Cooper, chairman of the non-profit organization. Visit https://www.louisburghistoricdistrict.com/ to purchase tickets and learn more. He said he hoped to have as many as 500 attend the tour. Bring an extra $10 per person and enjoy a horse and carriage ride through the historic district, which should be all decorated for the holidays, including luminaries lining the streets along the tour.
Cooper and his wife Dorothy are part of a group that has been working the better part of a year to get everything in order for the five-hour tour, which begins at 4 p.m. at Person Place on the campus of Louisburg College.
Cooper spoke with WIZS’s Bill Harris and guest host Mark Pace as part of the tri-weekly history segment on TownTalk Thursday.
“We have a beautiful historic district,” Cooper said, adding that “it’s always decked out for the holidays.”
As a way to invite folks to come and enjoy all that Louisburg has to offer, the group set into motion almost a year ago the plan to create its own holiday historic homes tour. Patrons check in at Person Place, 605 N. Main St. and then head out for a self-guided tour of a dozen homes, churches and other buildings in the historic area.
“The whole point is preservation of history and places,” Cooper said. As development continues to push into the area, there’s growing pressure to remove structures that may have historical significance.
There’s no such thing as ever being finished with a home restoration, and Cooper said the homes that will be on the tour will show just that. “Some are further along, and some are very early in the process,” he said. Participants in the tour will be able “to get a glimpse into homes that aren’t already perfectly restored.
The buildings included on the tour date from the early 1800’s to around the 1940’s, he said.
“We do expect to sell out,” he said, adding that limiting the number of tickets will hopefully reduce wait times. They expect good attendance from people who live outside Louisburg, and local businesses and restaurants are being encouraged to open or to remain open later on the day of the tour to accommodate visitors.
In two weeks, there will be a special kickoff event for all $1,000 and up sponsors of the event. It will be held in another historic home that is not going to be part of the tour. Cooper said he expected that upwards of 100 people would be in attendance.
Through sponsorships and ticket purchase, the non-profit hopes to be able to continue to make improvements at Oakwood Cemetery, as well as improve the signage to clearly identify homes within the historic district. He also mentioned the possibility of developing a system for visitors to hear audio stories of particular homes by scanning a QR code to preserve the stories, as well as a revolving account of some sort to help owners as they try to save historic locations.
It’s important to save the physical locations, Cooper noted, but it’s also important to save the stories behind the buildings.
Scottie Richardson wears a couple of hats at Crossroads Christian. He is the men’s basketball coach but also oversees a very successful athletic program for the entire school as athletic director. “We are coming off of the winningest fall season in the school’s history,” Richardson said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk. From success on the volleyball court to a final four finish for the boy’s soccer team, things have been going well for Crossroads.
Winter sports are now here and Crossroads is off to a great start as both girl’s and boy’s basketball are undefeated so far this season. The boys are coming off a huge victory against crosstown rival Henderson Collegiate and are now preparing for holiday tournaments.
The Colts will be heading for Wilson for one tournament and then an MLK Event in Greene County is also upcoming.
The key to all of this success, according to Richardson, is developing younger talent and use that to build on. The Colts certainly excel at that. “Our middle school girl’s basketball team has not lost since 2019,” Richardson said. With that kind of talent rising to varsity level athletics, it’s no wonder Crossroads continues to be a team opposing coaches fear when they appear on the schedule.
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Oxford’s annual Lighting of the Greens and Christmas parade are set for Friday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.
The deadline to submit applications to participate is Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., according to information from the City of Oxford.
The festivities begin at 4 p.m., with the lighting of the greens at 6:45 p.m., followed by the parade at 7 p.m.
Families are invited to come downtown for ornament making, pictures with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate, performances, food and more.
Participants are responsible for decorating vehicles, tables and booths for the occasion.
Click the links below to complete the application online.
