During Monday night’s Henderson City Council meeting, council members debated not only whether to continue the city’s relationship with Energy Systems Group, but also whether to sell the Municipal Building.
Wednesday’s open line
So there’s nothing wrong with Henderson’s drinking water that a little rain, a little potassium and a little time won’t fix. Aside from regretting the wasted negotiating opportunity (“Gee, general, we’d be happy to take 20 million gallons a day of this stinky, foul-tasting water for, say, $1 million, but $3.455 million? Do algae cost extra?”), we’re fascinated by the use of a potassium compound in a water plant. Back in high school chemistry, the mix of water and potassium …
Business denied Sunday use of city property
At Monday night’s Henderson City Council meeting, downtown businessman Doug Marshall of Woodcrafts and Coin Supplies requested permission to use a nearby city parking lot at the corner of Garnett and Orange streets for an auction Sunday, Oct. 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Better-tasting water on the way, city says
After Henderson resident Sylvia Allyn addressed the City Council on Monday night regarding the water supply, which smells to her like “Ajax, Comet cleanser and Lysol,” the council soon heard a report on the problems with the water from the Kerr Lake Regional Water System.
Tuesday’s open line
It’s time to wish our city negotiating team the best of luck as the group heads to Washington to seek relief from the Army Corps of Engineers’ $3.455 million request (demand?) for a water storage contract at Kerr Lake. We don’t have much hope, but stranger things have happened. Meanwhile, the floor is open.
School board rejects higher parking fee
The Vance County Board of Education met on Monday night at the Administrative Services Center on Graham Avenue.
City fire hydrants fall into disrepair
A potential safety issue that came to light during Monday night’s City Council meeting is the number of fire hydrants in need of repair in Henderson.
Milestones: A week for random ranting
Well, Henderson, I didn’t think it could be done, but you’ve gone a whole week without anyone prominent doing or saying anything dumb enough to get the whole column. Reverend Dale, where are you when I need you? Coaching football? Thank heaven! Now the boys will know how to properly argue a call. Please, though, Reverend, go to the City Council meeting tonight. They’re going to talk about police brutality! If you’re lucky, you’ll get pulled over on the way …
Community gives back to champion softball team
To the tune of “Y’all Ready for This?” 13 outstanding young female athletes, all dressed alike in white crop pants, blue jerseys, corsages, bracelets and flip-flops, were presented at the athletic version of debutante recognition Sunday afternoon at the Aycock Recreation Complex.
Berger’s legislative report: Rural voices count
This is the second in an occasional series of articles contributed by state Sen. Doug Berger about legislative issues of concern to Vance County. Vance County, like many rural counties, has experienced the tragic death of a child on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle).
School board could vote on parking fees
Vance County Schools Superintendent Norm Shearin is going to push for a vote on new high school parking fees Monday night at the monthly meeting of the Board of Education, according to the agenda for the meeting.
Amortization back on the council agenda
The Henderson Planning Board’s meeting Monday afternoon at 3:30 will have an immediate effect on that night’s City Council meeting.
Pick of the day: Cheer for the girls
The Henderson-Vance 12-and-under girls softball team — the Southeast champions who finished fourth in the nation at the Babe Ruth World Series last month — will be honored during a celebration at the Aycock Recreation Complex at 2 p.m.
Police investigate serious shooting
A Henderson man was seriously wounded in a shooting early today, city police announced in a news release.
Weekend open line
It has been a busy week in Henderson, what with the Chavasse Avenue railroad crossing finally smoothed out, the City Council seeming to move ever closer to consolidating city operations in the old Lowe’s building and the Optimist Bowl (congratulations to Southern Vance on the 20-2 win, but playing the rivalry game midseason sucks out some of the excitement). Next week should bring even more excitement, with the Weed and Seed forum, the Board of Education meeting and the regular …
Pick of the day: Get out and give
The donation drop site is open now until 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter. It’s as easy an opportunity as you’ll have to donate money, toiletries, nonperishable food or water to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort through the Red Cross.
Friday’s open line
Can anyone explain this controversy over the use of the term “refugees” to refer to people whom Hurricane Katrina drove from their homes, often with the loss of everything they owned? How did that perfectly apt word — far more telling of the problems at hand than the bland “evacuee,” which leaves the implication of going home in a couple of days, or the even less meaningful “victim” or “survivor” — become another flash point in this nation’s on-again, off-again …
ESG makes numbers work for move to Ops Center
By April you might have a new place to pay your water bill, apply for a zoning permit or attend a City Council meeting if all goes as planned by Energy Systems Group. City Council members and some staffers heard about ESG’s plans and the proposed financing Thursday afternoon at the Operations & Service Center on Beckford Drive.
CSX, state fix Chavasse rail crossing
The railroad crossing at Chavasse Avenue has been the subject of many complaints at the Municipal Building and much cursing by jarred motorists, but two days of work this week should put an end to all the verbiage.
Thursday’s open line
Who would have thought HomeinHenderson would develop into the blogosphere’s version of DrKoop.com (which, oddly enough, isn’t associated with Dr. C. Everett Koop)? But Wednesday’s open line was the place to turn for all the best tips on treating poison ivy. Now all we need is a cure for stinky, dirt-flavored water. We prefer the beer idea to the blender suggestion, but what do we know? On a more serious note, let’s hope Vance schools are ready for hurricane evacuees/refugees …