WIZS Radio Local News Audio 08-29-22 Noon
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TownTalk: Blackmon And Ellington Attend Chamber Business Meeting
It’s a well-used analogy, but one appropriate for the situation that Henderson and the surrounding community finds itself in, according to City Manager Terrell Blackmon: The seeds for growth and improvement have been planted, and now the area is beginning to see those seeds sprout. But some onlookers may not be convinced until the flowers bloom.
Blackmon was a guest on Monday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and he said he was among a group of local city and business leaders to come together to late last week to discuss ways to cultivate and nurture those tender sprouts as they continue to grow.
“They’ve been in progress,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen immediately…you have to plant seeds and allow them to grow.”
Blackmon used the analogy to describe the various projects that the city is a part of, as well as the 4-point strategic plan endorsed by the City Council at its 2022 planning retreat.
The meeting was one way for business leaders to hear about progress being made to make Henderson and the surrounding area more inviting – from its physical appearance to attract new residents, to the regional water expansion necessary to provide the infrastructure needed to attract new industry.
They gathered at Clearview Church in Henderson and speakers included Mayor Eddie Ellington, Ronald Bennett, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Greg Etheridge, president of the local Rotary Club, Tony Mills with Henderson Police Department and Brian Boyd, who acted as facilitator for the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
“I was sitting in a room with a group of people that have a vested interest in this community,” Blackmon said of the gathering, a follow-up action from the recent letter presented to the City Council from concerned business about the negative image of the city.
That letter, Blackmon said, underscored some concerns that the city already was in process of addressing, but it also served to heighten expectations and showed that the business community was interested in improvements that were being done around the city.
Blackmon provided an update on progress being made in the council’s four priorities of its strategic plan – improving the image of the city, recruitment and retention of employees, safe, affordable housing and revitalization and redevelopment.
“They see that the city is growing and they want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that improves the overall appearance of the community,” Blackmon said of those who attended the meeting.
Projects like the regional water expansion and housing codes are just a couple of current projects. “Those things don’t sound real sexy, but the provide the infrastructure for the growth that we’re about to see happen in the community,” Blackmon said.
In his remarks to the group, Mayor Ellington said he is most interested in his hometown being the best it can be.
“I’m happy to see this traction and momentum,” Ellington said in a follow-up interview with WIZS News on Monday. “The only way to get better is to address them,” he said of concerns from the community, “admit it, and hit them head-on.”
Ellington said one concern he has is code enforcement in housing. The city council’s recent adoption of revised minimum housing code will surely help in a couple of areas of the city’s strategic plan priorities.
Ellington said staff shortages across city departments – from police officers to street maintenance crews – makes a tough situation even more difficult.
Code enforcement is not an easy job, but Ellington said it’s a key component in making progress. “That’s what’s so desperately needed,” he said, adding that he advocates beefing up the code enforcement staff to be able to adequately address violations across the city.
Blackmon said he is pleased to see that business leaders seem to be more interested in what’s happening in the city and are attending council meetings. “I’m very appreciative of seeing involvement” at council meetings.
“It shows me that they care about this community,” Blackmon added.
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The Local Skinny! Ellington, City Leaders Assess Needs During Ride-Around
A contingent of city officials completed a ride-around through a couple of the city’s wards to view for themselves some of the concerns that residents have with the state of some properties in their neighborhoods.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington told John C. Rose on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny! that he was among those who hopped in cars and cruised some of the city’s streets in Wards 3 and 4. Code enforcement, he said, must be “at the forefront of our mission.”
Ride-arounds are just one way for city officials to get firsthand accounts of how properties are being maintained – or not maintained, as the case may be.
“I’ve been through these wards myself,” Ellington said, “to see what people are faced with. Just to see it firsthand, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said.
The mayor recalled a recent chat he had with a resident, who invited him off her porch to take a short walk.
“We walked down the street and around the corner,” he said, and what he saw was not good.
“A lot of it was gut-wrenching and disappointing,” he said of pockets of neighborhoods that are not maintained properly.
Some folks have beautiful yards and porches, yet “two houses down, they’re falling in, cars in the yard, abandoned.” City residents don’t deserve that kind of inattention, he said.
Others who participated in the ride-around included City Manager Terrell Blackmon, Police Chief Marcus Barrow, Recreation and Parks Director Kendrick Vann and City Attorney Rix Edwards.
The next ride-around will cover Wards 1 and 2, he said. It’s a good way for the city’s residents to be assured that their concerns are being heard and addressed.
“I just want the residents to keep the faith. We’re moving and we’re looking forward to a bright future,” Ellington said.
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Harvesting Herbs
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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Vote Daily To Keep Two Local Products In Running For “Coolest Thing Made In NC” Contest
Two Vance County businesses are in the running for a statewide honor, and voting is now underway to choose the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” by the N.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Now it’s up to the community to vote via email to make sure the local businesses get to the next round.
Henderson-Vance Chamber President Michele Burgess told WIZS Thursday that not one, but two local products have been nominated and she said it’s a “really BIG deal.”
For the past few years, the NC Chamber has held a statewide contest, she said.
“Two of our Henderson companies were named! Way to go, Country Snacks Mfg. for your pork skins product and MARS Petcare for your Nutro Dog Food!” Burgess said in an email statement to WIZS.
Burgess said she nominated the County Snacks pork skins because Carolina Country Snacks recently was named the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year. “And then to see that MARS was also selected is just icing on the cake,” Burgess noted. “Both are worthy products for sure.”
Visit coolestthingmadeinnc.com , search for the two products, and vote! “The 10 semifinalists will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 8, and that doesn’t give us much time to take action,” Burgess said. A total of 80 products are in the first round, but Burgess is encouraging the community to vote for the two Vance County products to keep them in the running for the ultimate award.
The field of candidates narrows with each round of voting, and the winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 6, the day before National Manufacturing (MFG) Day. October is Manufacturing Month, and MFG Day, organized nationally by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, highlights the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.
A couple of details about the voting process:
- A voter may vote once per day per valid email address.
- Use valid email addresses; invalid addressed will be expunged from vote totals.
- Nominated products will advance through multiple rounds of voting, with the products receiving the highest votes in each round moving to subsequent rounds.
- Vote totals will be reset at the beginning of each round.
- Paid advertising to promote a product is not allowed. (Don’t think I didn’t consider this before reading the rules!) If a nominee is found to have used paid advertising to promote their product in the contest, they will be disqualified. Nominated companies are encouraged to utilize social media, press, and other channels to promote their product in the contest, but they may also take a hands-off approach if they choose.
Franklin, CenturyLink Continue Broadband Project To Unserved Areas
High-speed fiber internet will soon be available to almost 2,000 homes currently in unserved areas throughout Franklin County.
Through a $3.9 million Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant, Lumen – the parent company of CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber – will be providing high-speed fiber internet to 1,978 homes across Franklin County. The project makes available broadband fiber internet in areas previously unserved by that service, according to a press statement from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.
The project will bring broadband to the unincorporated areas of Franklinton, Centerville, Wood, Justice, Bunn, Green Hill, Laurel Mill, Montgomery, Firetower, NC 561, NC 56 East, Alert and Perry. Work is expected to finish in July 2023.
The company has already completed access to 584 homes and is accepting new customers in the areas of Montgomery, NC 581, Green Hill and Laurel Mill.
Officials from Lumen met recently with Franklin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Michael Schriver and Commissioner Harry Foy along with Assistant County Manager Will Doerfer at one of the completed sites of the project along Ronald Tharrington Road.
“This broadband GREAT Grant program is a wonderful example of public-private partnerships that work for people, communities, and their businesses,” said Steve Brewer, Lumen’s director of state regulatory and legislative affairs. “Families and businesses have shifted to living more of life online. We know broadband brings many benefits to communities—this expansion will improve access to the online applications being used every day.”
GREAT grants, established by N.C. legislature and awarded by N.C. Broadband Infrastructure Office, are provided to private broadband service providers to “facilitate the deployment of broadband service to unserved areas of North Carolina,” according to the Broadband Office’s website. Visit https://www.ncbroadband.gov/grants/great-grant to learn more.
Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners approved a letter of support and local match for CenturyLink to receive this GREAT Grant of $3,899,638 to install high-speed fiber internet to nearly 2,000 homes throughout the county. Commissioners also supported the application with a promised local match of $116,990. In February 2021, CenturyLink signed a five-year service agreement with NC Broadband Infrastructure Office. At the July 2021 meeting, commissioners approved a contract for CenturyLink to provide fiber-to-the-home service for 1,978 homes in Franklin County in exchange for the county’s match.
County leadership is awaiting a decision on additional Phase II GREAT Grant funding and will be pursuing additional grant programs to further expand broadband access in Franklin County.
“Franklin County is excited about this opportunity for residents to access life-changing service,” said County Manager Kim Denton. “Access to high-speed internet expands opportunities for education, healthcare, and personal enrichment.”
Residents can find out about service and rate information in their area by visiting www.Q.com or www.centurylink.com. Residents can also find service availability information by clicking the “Check Availability” button and supplying their addresses.
Attention, Farm Families! Apply For A Chance To Be Featured During 2022 N.C. State Fair
– Information courtesy of N.C. State Press Office
Has your farm family got what it takes to be one of the 11 families recognized this year at the N.C. State Fair as a Farm Family of the Day?
If you are proud to be an N.C. farmer, work hard to contribute to the state’s No. 1 industry and love both farming and the N.C. State Fair, you could be one of the lucky ones selected.
The “Farm Family of the Day” program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, is returning for its second year to recognize and celebrate more of our state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families that are behind our $92.9 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.
Applications can be found at https://ncstatefair.org/2022/Attractions/FarmFamilyOfTheDay.htm The deadline to apply is Sept. 16.
“The State Fair’s earliest beginnings sought to elevate the understanding of new agricultural practices and technology. Helping people make the connection between farming and the food they enjoy is one of our top missions at the NCDA&CS each year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
“Thanks to Tractor Supply Company, this program can help tell the story of and celebrate our farm families. Farmers are out there every day working to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we need to survive.”
Families recognized as Farm Family of the Day honorees will be awarded an N.C. State Fair gift basket including fair tickets to use on any day of their choice during the 2022 N.C. State Fair, ride passes and additional swag from Tractor Supply Company and the N.C. State Fair. Families will be chosen by both nomination and application.
The 2022 N.C. State Fair is set for Oct. 13-23 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina for all who attend, and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights. For more information, visit https://www.ncstatefair.org/2022/index.htm.
Warren Senior Center Issues Coupons For Use At Local Farmers’ Market
The Warren County Senior Center and Warren County Cooperative Extension announce the launch of the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) for 2022. The SFMNP provides lower-income older adults with coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at their local farmers’ markets. The program’s dual goals are designed to improve the nutritional status of older adults and stimulate business for local farmers while creating a greater awareness of the farmers’ market.
The Warren County Senior Center is distributing coupons to eligible residents once during the growing season. A recipient must be a Warren County resident aged 60 years or older and meet certain self-declared monthly income eligibility requirements. These coupons can be used through Sept. 30, 2022, at the local Warren County Farmers’ Market, located in the parking lot of the Warren County Health Department, at 544 West Ridgeway St. in Warrenton. The Warren County Farmers’ Market operates on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Income eligibility is $2,096 per month for an individual or $2,823 for a couple.
Coupons are available at the Warren County Senior Center, located 435 West Franklin St., Warrenton, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. To learn more, call the Warren County Senior Center at 252.257.3111.
Volunteers Needed For NC DOT Fall Litter Sweep
The N.C. Department of Transportation is looking for volunteers for the Adopt-A-Highway Fall Litter Sweep, which runs Sept. 10 – 24.
Each April and September, the department calls on volunteers to help remove litter from roadsides. Volunteers from local businesses, schools, non-profits, churches and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean.
“The Litter Sweep is a great opportunity to get outdoors with family and friends and work alongside NCDOT to ensure North Carolina remains a beautiful place to live and work.” says David Harris, a state DOT roadside environmental engineer.
Volunteers can request gloves, safety vests and bags from their local county maintenance office to prepare for the cleanup event. DOT maintenance crews devote one week of their time to pick up litter and collect the orange bags that dot roadsides after volunteers have finished their work.
Cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests, are available from the local NCDOT county maintenance yard office.
The following link contains contact information for each county’s local litter management coordinator.
Visit the Litter Sweep webpage for more information.
LEAP Grants Totaling $20K Awarded During Tuesday Teacher Convocation
Information courtesy of Aarika Sandlin, VCS Director of Communication & Marketing
The Vance County Public School Foundation (VCPSF) awarded eleven Vance County School teachers with Learning that Extends Actual Performance (LEAP) mini-grants at the 2022-23 convocation on Aug. 23 at McGregor Hall. A total of $20,000 was awarded, made possible through the VCPSF and a $10,000 donation from MAKO Medical.
The LEAP mini-grants provide financial resources and support to teachers so they can enrich classroom learning experiences. The funded projects reflect the pillars of the Vance County Schools’ strategic plan – equity & inclusion, high performance culture, innovation and experiential learning.
Following is a list of this year’s LEAP grant recipients, their schools and the winning projects;
- Frank Brown, Vance County High School – Communicator Headsets for Public Safety Course: Communicator headsets will expand the 9-1-1 telecommunicator program to help train students for the workforce
- Lillian King, Carver Elementary – Amplifying Student Voices: A school-wide project that is intended to promote student participation in classrooms with tossable, ball-shaped microphones called Q-balls.
- Milton Lima, STEM Early High – Cymatics in Action: Students will build and engage with cymatic experiences using Tesla coils, oscilloscopes, speakers, wiring and cymatic plates, that will encourage class discussion and enhance hands-on classroom experiences.
- Claudel Richards, Dabney Elementary – Math Reads with Flexibility: Standing desks and flexible seating will be provided to make reading more accessible for all students. Math storybooks and resource books will assist teachers with implementing strategies that cater to the needs of all learners.
- Debbie McCune, Carver Elementary – Science Fun for Everyone: Second grade students will participate in In-School Science Field Trips with interactive, educational and fun science activities.
- Loricia Martin, E.O. Young Elementary – Learning at All Levels: Sensory rugs, ottomans, and counter-height stools will be used to foster comfortable learning at all levels during instructional blocks.
- Ginger Glover, Vance Virtual Village Academy – Dream Believers: Dream Believers are a group of elementary students who create projects that will inspire creativity and imagination. These projects will be donated to various organizations within the Henderson/Vance community.
- Cynthia Nnameka, Vance Virtual Village Academy – Lab Days with Lab Kits: Sixth to eighth grade students will participate in critical thinking and hands-on experiences that correspond with NC Essential Standards.
- Amber Baker, Ebony Watkins and Alexandra White, E.M. Rollins STEAM Elementary – LaserSTEAM: LaserSTEAM encourages hands-on experience for students that will engage students in reading, learning and writing.
Following its initial $10,000 donation in April 202w to fund the LEAP grants, MAKO Medical issued a challenge to the community to double the difference, making a commitment to match every donation, totaling up to $10,000. VCPSF reached the milestone in July, receiving over $10,000 in community donations since May. MAKO presented the additional $10,000 from the MAKO match at the VCS Convocation, which was attended by all Vance County Schools staff, members of the Vance County School Board of Education, the Vance County Public School Foundation, MAKO representatives Clever Prince and Mikey the Shark, as well as representatives from area businesses.
Learn more about the VCPSF at vcs.k12.nc.us and follow them on Facebook @The Vance County Public School Foundation.