The Daily Dispatch (Henderson, NC)

1 week ago | hendersondispatch.com | Tyler R. Davis

HENDERSON — Vance County Jail was the topic of discussion at a special called meeting of the board of commissioners on Monday — talks that turned out a decision to boost pay for jail staff nearly across the board and offer higher incentive pay. Staff recommended boosting the minimum pay for correctional officers from $40,542 to $42,367 effective that same day. Other positions, such as food service workers and detention liaisons, were also upshifted a pay grade.

1 week ago | hendersondispatch.com | Tyler R. Davis

HENDERSON — Not an inch of Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center was left unused for the largest-ever Community Resource Festival on Wednesday. An hour and a half in, event organizers took note of 365 visitors. They stopped by one or more of the 100 vendors out for the event, with many enjoying the food trucks parked just outside. One of those vendors was Be SMART for Kids, a nationwide nonprofit that educates on the importance of safe firearm storage.

1 week ago | hendersondispatch.com | Tyler R. Davis

HENDERSON — During its regular Monday meeting, the Henderson City Council gave City Manager Hassan Kingsberry its blessing to crack down on blight downtown. Kingsberry, having heard many complaints about the state of downtown buildings, requested the authority to begin sending letters to all owners of such buildings, notifying them that the city will enforce building codes “in order to improve our downtown.”Property owners will get 60 days to make repairs before receiving violation notices.

2 weeks ago | hendersondispatch.com | Tyler R. Davis

MANSON — There are 274 graves belonging to enslaved people near the border with Virginia. The poor weather on Friday forced a crowd of more than 50, largely Warren County folks, inside Drewry Volunteer Fire Department, for a dedication ceremony honoring those buried at the former Clearview Plantation on Drewry-Virginia Line Road.

2 weeks ago | hendersondispatch.com | Tyler R. Davis

WARRENTON — Warrenton is looking a little bluer this year. Quite literally, in fact. Tim Lang, a Chicago native who has made his home in Warren County, has added a mural on Franklin Street celebrating the Eastern Bluebird, the dazzling blue, melodious songbird endemic to the region. Just in time for the fast-approaching second annual Eastern Bluebird festival, which begins April 26.