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Area high school basketball teams will be tipping off the local basketball season in a few days and coaches have high expectations for the season.
At Vance Charter, head basketball coach Taron Downey is optimistic about the Knights. “The future is bright,” Downey said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk. “We have young guys but one of the best groups I’ve had,” Downey continued. Only three seniors will return to the Knights this season. While he has high expectations of his team he knows that teams from Voyager and Henderson Collegiate will pose problems. “Our young guys don’t know what to expect. If I can get a guy to make a jump shot we will be OK,” Downey stated. They start off the season with a matchup on the road against East Wake Academy on Monday night. Tomorrow (Thursday) they will take part in a Night Out with The Knights, 6pm, at the Vance Charter Gym with plenty of food and some fun on the court to give players, students, parents and kids a chance to enjoy a fun evening.
J.F. Webb’s head coach, Alex Tharpe, expects his team will improve from last year’s 14-10 regular season record. While they made the state playoffs last year, he says it will be a somewhat different team this year. “We will have a different look. We want to run and push the tempo,” Tharpe said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk. Of course J.F. Webb will have to contend with a strong Southern Durham team this season that usually dominates the conference. The Warriors will return six seniors, one of whom is a starter. Webb is also preparing for the South Granville holiday basketball tournament next month. Before that can happen, they must prepare for opening night this Friday at Oxford Prep. “It’s one of the best Oxford Prep teams I’ve seen,” Tharpe said of his opening game opponent.
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Whether you’re gearing up for the traditional Black Friday sales crush or someone who chooses to wait until December to think about shopping for holiday gifts, one thing’s for certain: When you hear that bell ringing and see that familiar red kettle, you know the Christmas season is near.
For more than a century, the Salvation Army has been a fixture in communities all over the country, and its volunteers ring bells and stand watch over those red kettles that are waiting to be filled with coins and folding money outside retail stores in the community.
The local Red Kettle Campaign kicked off last week, and Capt. Josh Keaton of the local Salvation Army said folks will see the iconic kettle outside the local Walmart beginning this Saturday.
Of course, there will be kettles in other locations across Henderson, including the Rose’s store and Food Lion stores.
And each kettle needs volunteers – 15 to 20 volunteers for each kettle during the week, he said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. This year’s local goal is $75,000, Keaton said. There are about 25 kettle locations, and all donations stay right here in the area served by the Salvation Army.
Visit RegisterToRing.com to sign up to volunteer or call the Salvation Army at 252. 438.7107.
“Spots are filling up this year,” Keaton said, but “the more volunteers we have, the better off we are.”
Keaton said it’s important for young people to see others giving back to the community, and he said “the older generation is our driving force” when it comes to volunteers. Be it a civic group or church group, the older volunteers serve as a reminder to the youth to give back to the community, Keaton said.
“We can’t do what we do without our volunteers,” Keaton said – not just during the holidays when folks may feel more inclined to be generous, but throughout the year.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this community,” he said, adding that there is a great need, but also a great level of generosity which support the efforts of the Salvation Army.
Customers at area Walmarts can choose an Angel from the Salvation Army’s Angel Trees and shop right in the store for gifts for children and senior adults, Keaton said.
The Angel Tree campaign runs from Nov. 9 to Dec. 9. Keaton said he expected that more than 200 children will experience the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning because of the Angel Tree project.
When you pass a kettle on your way into a store this holiday season and find yourself with no cash, don’t worry. The Salvation Army has got you covered. There’s a QR code that you can scan with your phone and make a quick payment through any of several online payment options.
“It seems to be working well,” Keaton said, adding that online payment options may add a convenience factor to holiday giving.
“We can’t continue to put our eggs in one basket,” he said.
Or, in this case, kettle.
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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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Mental health and access to quality care for substance use disorders are buzz phrases that continue to capture the attention of government leaders, medical professionals and the community. A couple of forums are scheduled for later this month in Vance and Granville counties, and N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon invites interested individuals to come out to learn more.
Working together with Granville-Vance Public Health and Vaya Health representatives, Sossamon said the programs offer residents a chance to gain insight into current conditions in the two counties with regard to mental health and substance use disorders.
In addition learning just what the two topics encompass, there will be two panel discussions – one on youth mental health and one on substance use disorder and addiction, according to a press statement issued from Sossamon spokesperson Clai Keel.
Providers also will be on hand to share information about available resources.
The Vance County forum will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church, 511 Orange St., Henderson.
The Granville County forum will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Community Church, 3237 Knotts Grove Rd., Oxford.
Provider booths will include those that specialize in medications for Opioid Use Disorder (e.g., Buprenorphine, Methadone), individual and family counseling, medication management, crisis management, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment.
A wide range of topics will be covered, addressing crucial issues such as suicide prevention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, crisis events, anxiety management, substance use disorder and recovery, depression treatment, addiction recovery, and primary care services. The forums aim to empower attendees with approachable access points for seeking care and support.
“Representative Sossamon is dedicated to fostering an environment where residents can discuss their concerns, learn from experts in the field, and discover local resources that can make a difference in their lives,” the statement read. “These forums will be invaluable for individuals and families seeking guidance and support in the areas of mental health and substance use disorder.”
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When Vance County residents get those much-anticipated tax bills early next year, just remember one thing: It’s been eight years since the last revaluation, so any increase – and most certainly there will be an increase – has occurred over eight years, not just one.
That reminder came from Ryan Vincent of Vincent Valuations, the company hired to complete the revaluation process.
Vincent spoke to the Vance County Board of Commissioners at the Nov. 6 meeting to request that the board adopt the scheduled values that were presented.
The commissioners did approve the request, so the next step is to publish the announcement in the local newspaper for four consecutive weeks and then they will be officially adopted.
And soon after that, tax bills will hit mailboxes throughout the county.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt explained in a phone interview after the meeting that there are values associated with different types of homes – brick versus stick-built, custom home versus tract-style – and inspectors assign each property to a level, which ultimately affects the tax value.
This most recent revaluation process involved individual exterior inspections of every residence, and walking the property to measure it.
“That’s typically not done every time,” Brummitt said.
Vincent said the county will work Atlas, a contract and mapping company, to help address disputes that taxpayers may have with the revaluation results.
He noted that there are “fairly substantial increases throughout the county” with this revaluation. The previous revaluation was done in 2016, which resulted in a drop in tax values.
Brummitt said the county encourages residents to speak up with questions they may have when they get their tax bills.
“Nobody’s going to understand it until they get their appraisal,” he said. “Some people will be validated in their complaints.”
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