Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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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Henderson Man Shot Dead; Two Suspects Charged With First-Degree Murder

A Henderson man was killed in the early morning hours of Friday, Apr. 29 and police have charged two Oxford residents with first-degree murder.

James E. Mellon, 27, of 465 Powell St., died of a single gunshot wound, according to information received Monday morning from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Police responded to 465 Powell St. at 12:45 a.m. Friday after receiving a report of a shooting at the location.

When officers arrived, they found Mellon, who had suffered a single gunshot wound. He died at the scene, according to Barrow.
“Solid leads were quickly established, and through the diligent work of the Henderson Police Department, we were able to develop suspect information leading to the arrest of two individuals thus far,” Barrow said.
Rashaun Hunt and Jada Peace, both 21 years old, have been charged in connection with the death. They were remanded to remanded to the Vance County Detention Facility pending initial court appearances.
The Henderson Police Department requests assistance from the public in identifying other suspects who may be involved in this case.
If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact the police department via Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, by using the P3 app, by calling the police department at 252.438.4141, or by Facebook or Instagram.
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information assisting in criminal cases.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Landowner Liability

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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Judge Deems Swain Drive Property Eligible For “Nuisance Abatement”

A superior court judge has signed a consent judgment for a Chapter 19 nuisance abatement for a property on Swain Drive.

After a long history of disturbances, drug violations and numerous calls to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Judge John Dunlow’s judgment was the final step in a civil nuisance abatement case brought by the County of Vance on behalf of the State of North Carolina, according to a press statement late last week from the Department of Public Safety. “Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes defines ‘nuisance’ activities and provides for a civil remedy to abate such criminal acts and their detrimental impacts on the community,” the statement read.

The property, located at 398 Swain Drive, has been a problem for years, “causing the community to live in fear and constantly draining emergency services and law enforcement resources,” according to Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

“This remedy is a result of an outstanding investigation between Vance County officials, members of the ALE Nuisance Abatement Team and cooperation from the family members who owned this property,” Brame stated in the press release.

The property has been tied up in an estate with multiple heirs. The terms of the consent judgment relinquished the property deed to a family member, who in turn would remove all structures except the brick house.  All trash and debris would be removed from the property, and it may never be used for illegal activity again. The judgment ordered the property be vacated by April 1, and anyone on the property would be charged with trespassing.

Sheriff Brame expressed gratitude for the effort and outcome. “I appreciate the cooperation from the property owner as we worked to solve this problem and hope this successful resolution will ensure the community returns to a more peaceful life.”

“The nuisance abatement law provides a solution for citizens living in fear and for problem locations that strain law enforcement resources. These properties reduce the quality of life for community members.” said Scottie Shoaf, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Nuisance Abatement Team. “It was a pleasure to work with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and members from this community to bring a permanent resolution to this problem and I look forward to the positive changes this judgment will facilitate.”

The Local Skinny! What’s Up With Those Chestnut Street Intersections?

Drivers who travel along Chestnut Street experience a variety of ways to proceed through intersections – with varying degrees of user-friendliness.

But John C. Rose got a few answers from Henderson Assistant City Manager Paylor Spruill and provided some updates to the stop, go, whoa situation along a fairly heavily traveled city street during the Monday segment of The Local Skinny!

The light with Chestnut and Montgomery streets died of old age, and city staff have not been able to find replacement parts to make a repair. So that light was retired, Spruill told WIZS in an email. And until a new light can be installed, drivers must contend with a temporary four-way stop at the intersection. “The city has included this among its capital improvement projects,” Spruill said, “and we anticipate it will receive funding in this coming budget year.”

Then there’s the sad story of the light at Chestnut and Young streets. Seems the nearby utility pole that supports this light was “fractured” in a traffic accident. It needs to be replaced and when it is replaced, the light can be remounted and should function properly.

According to Spruill, the utility company has scheduled that pole to be replaced this week.

The light at Chestnut and Horner streets operates on a timer, so drivers are at its mercy – Spruill said this intersection doesn’t use road sensors to detect the presence or absence of vehicles.

 

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TownTalk: Early Voting

More than 300 Vance County residents have cast their ballots in the first two days of early voting in advance of the May 17 primary.

Early voting continues this week and next, with the final day being Saturday, May 14, according to information from the Vance County Board of Elections office.

A total of 195 votes were cast on Thursday, Apr. 28 – the first day of early voting. A total of 139 voters turned out Friday to the city’s Dr. Andrea L. Harris operations center, located at 900 Beckford Dr., Henderson.

There are about 17,000 registered voters in the county.

Not registered to vote yet? No problem. Bring appropriate documentation and a photo ID to the operations center during the voting hours for same-day registration.

Except for the last day of early voting, which is Saturday, May 14, the voting hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Saturday voting hours are 8 a.m to 3 p.m.

 

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Popular “Quittin’ Time” Returns To Downtown Oxford May 5

Quittin’ Time in Oxford is set to kick off the 2022 season next week, inviting folks to hang around downtown after the workday ends to enjoy unwinding at a number of local eateries.

This is the second year for Quittin’ Time, and eight local restaurants and venues are gearing up to create small plates and drinks for their patrons during the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. window that begins Thursday, May 5 and continues on Thursdays through the end of June.

Visit Uptown 101, The Hub, Main St. Oasis, Strong Arm Bakery and Kitchen, Tobacco Wood Brewery, Harvest, Milano’s and The Orpheum to purchase hand-crafted small plates, craft cocktails, irresistible desserts – there may be some of last year’s favorites back on the menu, too!

Menu offerings will change from week to week, so follow along on social media for hints on what’s to come!

There’s no need to RSVP for the weekly free event – the only cost is for what patrons choose to purchase from the different locations as they stroll through downtown Oxford.

Youth Tennis Clinic, Court Dedication At Fox Pond May 14

Youth between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to a free “skills and drills” tennis clinic on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Fox Pond Park.

The Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation will conduct the clinic from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Fox Pond tennis courts. No registration is required, but all participants must wear appropriate tennis shoes/sneakers.

The event will include a ceremony to dedicate a tennis court in honor of Henderson tennis standout Mary Lloyd Hodges Barbera, who died in 2015.

The Henderson City Council last year approved dedicating courts 1 and 2 in Barbera’s honor.

Barbera was a tennis phenom and was considered one of the state’s premier junior tennis players in the 1970’s and 1980’s. She was ranked #1 in the state in the girls’ 12-, 14- and 18-year-old divisions. She won two 4A state singles titles as a junior in 1981 and again in 1982 as a senior. She graduated from Vance Sr. High in 1983 and went on to Peace College, where, in 1984, she was named an All-American athlete by the National Junior College Athletic Association for Flight #1 in singles competition. She transferred to N.C. State University in 1985 and led the Wolfpack women’s tennis team with 16 wins in singles competition. She was inducted into the William Peace University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.