Warren County, NC

Warren County Recreation Director Bonnie Fitz is settling into her new role with plenty of activities on the schedule for summer. She brings more than 20 years of Parks and Recreation experience in Virginia and South Carolina and came to Warren County on May 16 after serving as Parks and Recreation manager in York County, Va., since 2016. She is a member of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Association and South Carolina Parks and Recreation Association.

Recently re-elected Warren County Board of Education took their oaths of office during the board’s June 29 work session/business meeting. Pictured, from the left, are board Vice Chairwoman Victoria Lehman, board member Linda Byrd, Judge Ben Hunter, who administered oaths of office, and board member Ebony Talley-Brame.

Lorie Crawley, nicknamed “Moot,” is remembered in the Warren County community for operating New Beginnings Child Care in Warrenton with her family and the impact she made in the lives of others. Today, her family honors her memory by operating Moot’s Mobile Goodie Bus. For the Crawley...

Swimming, basketball, ice cream and more set a festive mood as the county celebrated the Phase I renovations of Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park in the Soul City Community on Friday. The park has been an important part of the community for decades. It was constructed in 1975 as part of...

The community of Wise was dressed in its patriotic finest on Monday as people from near and far gathered for its Independence Day Parade and Festival. From the American flags that lined the community’s main street, U.S. Highway 1, to an appearance by Uncle Sam, Wise continued a long tradition of holding a celebration to rival any location in the country.

Roanoke-Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department hosted its inaugural Kids Camp last Tuesday through Thursday, teaching some 30 young people ages 8-14 the basics of the fire service and other emergency response agencies. Fire Chief Lorenzo Wilkins said he received great feedback from participants and plans to make the free camp an...

Warren County is entering the final phase in its 10-month long comprehensive development planning process. Warren County’s draft comprehensive development plan will be posted online at https://www.planwarrencountync.com/ for public review and comment. The Warren County Planning Board will review and provide recommendations for the draft plan on Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. at the Warren County Armory, 501 US Hwy. 158 Business E., Warrenton. This meeting will be open to the public, and residents are welcome to attend.

During its June 28 work session/business meeting, the Warren County Board of Education heard suggestions for involving the community in plans for constructing a new consolidated elementary school. Need and scope of community involvement. Community advocate Jereann King Johnson, who is active with a number of organizations in the county,...

Jamesanna Shearin Johnson, departed this life peacefully, in the comfort of her home surrounded by family on Saturday, June 18, after living a life well lived, full of grace, joy and determination. A Celebration of Life was conducted on Friday, June 24, at 12:30 p.m. on Jordan Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Macon. The Rev. Rickie Bell, pastor, officiated. Entombment followed in the church cemetery.

Antione Damont Hendricks, 43, departed this life on Saturday, June 12, at his Manson residence. A Celebration of Life was conducted Saturday, June 25, at 1 p.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Wise. The Rev. Dr. Lamont Williams, pastor, officiated. The Rev. Ebony Talley-Brame and Elder Shondra Jordan assisted. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

The small Warren County community of Wise is dressed in its patriotic finery, with American flags lining U.S. 1 in preparation for the traditional Independence Day Parade and Festival. This year celebration will be especially meaningful because it marks the return of the annual event after a two-year absence due...

Warren County rising high school seniors Alston Brothers, Tayjah Cooper, Justin Green, Jamari Moss, Zamir Robinson, Rocky Carter and Brannon Allison were recognized recently for completing NC Farm Bureau’s Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders program. The program assists exceptional rising high school seniors from across the state in exploring agricultural-related college majors available at the state’s two land-grant universities—NC A&T State University and NC State University. Warren County IFAL participants are pictured with, from left to right, Dr. Travis Park and Dr. Joy Morgan, NC State IFAL Program coordinators; North Carolina Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding; and Dr. Chastity Warren English, NC A&T IFAL Program coordinator.

The Rosemary L. Lewis Scholarship Fund is an annual contribution made to Warren County Schools seniors beginning in 2021 at the request of the late Rosemary L. Lewis, who was employed with the Warren County school system for years as Student Service director. Even after retiring from Warren County Schools,...

A number of Warren County residents are among the 148 Vance-Granville Community College students who earned President’s List academic honors, and 142 students who earned Dean’s List academic honors for the spring 2022 semester, which ended in May. The President’s List recognizes students who achieved a perfect 4.0...

Some 80 years ago, Jasper Johnson, Sr. opened Johnson’s Barbershop on East Market Street in downtown Warrenton. The barbershop later moved to its current location on Front Street, where it has been a fixture in the community for most of its long history. Local history accounts recognize Johnson as...

Cooperative Extension is looking for volunteers to join the Vance/Warren Master Gardeners program. Applications are now being accepted for the 16-week training program, which will begin on Aug. 11. The class will meet on Thursday mornings, and covers all aspects of gardening including fruits, vegetables, weeds, insects, diseases, trees, shrubs,...

The Warren County Kids Fire/Rescue Camp hosted last week by Hawtree Volunteer Fire Department in Wise wrapped up another successful year. The camp covered topics such as vehicle extrication, hose streams and water supply, ladders, use of a fire extinguisher, wilderness rescue, ropes, water rescue, vehicle fires, forcible entry and use of equipment use as air packs. Tony Bailey of the NC Office of the State Fire Marshal was the guest speaker for a closing event on Saturday. Participating agencies included Afton-Elberon, Hawtree, Warrenton Rural, South Hill, Norlina, Roanoke Wildwood, Churchill Five Forks, Long Bridge and Roanoke Rapids volunteer fire departments; Warren County Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services and Sheriff’s Office; North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Halifax Electric, Duke Life Flight, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Coast Guard Auxiliary and North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal.

On Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m., a ribbon cutting will be held for Phase I renovations of the Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park in the Soul City community. Warren County received a grant award from North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to assist with renovations at Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park. Phase I included renovations to the basketball and tennis courts, upgrades to the pump house electrical, and adding an additional paved walking area.

Saturday’s presentation of “Seeking Justice II: The Trial of the Norlina 16” offered a perspective on 1921 events that included the lynching of Plummer Bullock and Alfred Williams through a different lens. The production represented a collaborative project of The 1921 Project, the Warren County Branch of...