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The Importance of
Commercial Truck Insurance in Halifax, NC
- Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
- Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
- That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.
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The Commercial Truck
Insurance Agency in Halifax, NC You Can Trust
Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.
As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.
We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't
Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.
At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.
One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.
Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.
If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:
- Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
- Exemplary Customer Service
- Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
- A+ Carriers Across the Country
- Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
- Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
- Truck Insurance for New Ventures
Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.
The Commercial Truck
Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Halifax, NC
At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.
As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.
Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.
For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.
While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.
Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.
Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.
Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:
- Business Interruption Insurance
- Reefer Breakdown Insurance
- Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
- Rental Reimbursement Insurance
- Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
- Towing Insurance
- Electronics Insurance
- Much More
3 Safe Driving Tips to
Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Halifax, NC
Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.
Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.
Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans
Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call NowPractice Defensive Driving
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call NowEnsuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call NowThis approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call NowFAQs About
Independence Insurance Agency
If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.
Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.
Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.
We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.
Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.
Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry
There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Halifax, NC that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.
Latest News in Halifax, NC
Readers overwhelmingly support Carolina Crossroads casino bid
Lance Martinhttps://www.rrspin.com/opinion/8059-readers-overwhelmingly-support-carolina-crossroads-casino-bid.html
We would describe the results of our recent October casino poll as having more votes cast in it than in a typical Halifax County municipal election — 1,674 in favor, 381 against and 43 undecided — nearly 4.5 times more people favoring a casino in the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District than those who oppose it.Voting is now closed as we have pulled our poll from the website as we planned after the last day of October.With it now established that the casino issue will again be brought up by legislators in thei...
We would describe the results of our recent October casino poll as having more votes cast in it than in a typical Halifax County municipal election — 1,674 in favor, 381 against and 43 undecided — nearly 4.5 times more people favoring a casino in the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District than those who oppose it.
Voting is now closed as we have pulled our poll from the website as we planned after the last day of October.
With it now established that the casino issue will again be brought up by legislators in their short session beginning April 24, there is much work to do on the local level to lobby lawmakers to choose Roanoke Rapids as a location.
As we have previously editorialized, we believe Carolina Crossroads is the perfect place for this private investment project — adequate land, all the required infrastructure, a renewed interest in the former Roanoke Rapids Theatre after its sale, and an interstate from which it is visible from both travel lanes.
All the land uses are in place at Carolina Crossroads that would allow other things beyond casinos — hotels, waterparks, restaurants and similar attractions — with more than 7,000 feet of road frontage along the interstate and more than 350 acres of developable land.
We believe this matter is not so much about people being able to do with their money what they please, but the catalyst it could provide to bring more economic development here. Sure, that will possibly include more eating, retail and commercial establishments but with an economic vibrancy that hasn’t been seen here since the textiles mills closed we can’t discount that at least one or two industries may see the area in a more favorable light since leaders decided to take this step to help the area improve.
What has been in discussion by state lawmakers is not a fly-by-night proposal in which someone sets up fishing tables or sweepstakes cafes in a strip mall, but people making a required $500 million investment for a stand alone casino and hotel.
This is private investment that requires no local government matching funds that has typically been the case in past economic development projects.
Before Halifax County commissioners deadlocked on a resolution supporting the efforts of Roanoke Rapids to land a casino in Carolina Crossroads — after they initially rejected the proposal — they were told the taxes that would be generated to Halifax County are $3.8 million a year and for Roanoke Rapids $3.3 million a year.
Excise taxes based on gross casino revenue would generate $3,375,000 a year in Halifax County.
The casino would represent $57 million in new payroll revenues a year which would generate new retail sales for the county and communities.
That would benefit Halifax County to the tune of $8.4 million a year, Roanoke Rapids $2.3 million a year and other entities, which would include municipalities over $600,000 a year.
Several boards and commissions which have influence in economic development matters in Halifax County have already endorsed the concept of a Carolina Crossroads casino — factors that should not be not be ignored by state lawmakers when the issue is revisited in the short session.
And we would humbly ask that they also take a look at our poll results — one that has had more votes than you would typically see in a Halifax County municipal election — Editor
Underwater ghost town: NC lake covers 'lost city' with links to Underground Railroad
Heather Leahhttps://www.wral.com/story/nc-ghost-town-patsy-young-underground-railroad/20992261/
Many of North Carolina's manmade, recreational lakes have entire ghost towns hidden beneath their surface.However, one lost town in particular has an incredible story of a clever woman who escaped slavery in the 1800s and became a fugitive brewer that created beer so memorable it's still honored by brewers today.The town where she lived in freedom, making a living on her beloved ale, was known as Rock Landing. Oddly, unlike the mill towns and farmland that we so often find beneath lakes, Rock Landing was apparently known for be...
Many of North Carolina's manmade, recreational lakes have entire ghost towns hidden beneath their surface.
However, one lost town in particular has an incredible story of a clever woman who escaped slavery in the 1800s and became a fugitive brewer that created beer so memorable it's still honored by brewers today.
The town where she lived in freedom, making a living on her beloved ale, was known as Rock Landing. Oddly, unlike the mill towns and farmland that we so often find beneath lakes, Rock Landing was apparently known for being pretty metropolitan for its time, according to Steven Lassiter Green-Hockaday, a historian who has been doing research on the role of the Underground Railroad in Rock Landing.
"It was supposed to be the next New York or Philadelphia," said Green-Hockaday. "Rock Landing was at the beginning of the Roanoke Canal, which was a big deal in 1817."
This would have made Rock Landing a center of shipping in North Carolina, bringing in wealth and people from all over the country.
It also made the town an ideal place for those escaping slavery to hide – because the Roanoke Canal and Roanoke River in Halifax County are both known for their major roles as 'freedom roads,' helping enslaved men and women escape slavery from this area of the state. Even today, Halifax County is the only place in NC with three registered historic sites on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. These are places where visitors can touch tangible remnants of this painful and powerful past.
Tunnels, jails and canals: Remnants of the Underground Railroad still exist in Halifax County
Patsy Young: 'Fugitive brewer' escapes slavery, serves ale to Roanoke Canal workers from Rock Landing
Before her freedom, Young was known as Piety. Twice in her life, she escaped from Nathaniel Hunt's plantation in Franklin County. First, when she was 16. Then again, several years later, she escaped again, bringing her young daughter with her.
Escaping slavery was so dangerous that experts in Underground Railroad history say many enslaved men and women chose not to escape. Some felt they were not physically capable of making the journey. Others were afraid to leave their families. Still others were unsure how they'd make a living once off the plantation.
Young escaping as a mother with a 4-year-old daughter would have carried extreme risk – but the risk was worth her freedom. Plus, she knew exactly how she would make money and build a life for herself and her daughter, Eliza.
During her time in slavery, Young's cooking and brewing became extremely popular, allowing her enslaver to make a lot of money on her skills, according to storyteller and historic interpreter Jackie Ruffin, who plays Young and shares a 'firsthand account' of her escape into freedom -- and fame as a brewer.
"I heard about free people of color, able to work on the Roanoke Canal, and I wanted that job," said Ruffin, while in character as Young.
Aware of how much money her talents were worth, Young escaped the Franklin County plantation and ran for Halifax, which was known as a place with a large population of free Black families and abolitionists for the Underground Railroad.
According to angry 'slave ads' released from her outraged enslaver Nathaniel Hunt, he was clearly worried about all the money she was making cooking lunches and ale for the Roanoke Canal workers, where she had made plenty of friends and supporters.
He wrote that he was informed she'd been living near Halifax and spent summers in Rock Landing, where "she cooked for the hands employed on the Canal." He added, "at the above places she has many acquaintances.”
He warned her friends and supporters not to help her.
"I forewarn all owners of boats, captains and owners of vessels from taking on board their vessels or carrying away this woman and her child Eliza.
He also tried to steal her free name, writing, "The proper name of the woman is Piety, but she will no doubt change it."
Young was not the only Freedom Seeker known to have escaped to Rock Landing. At least five 'fugitive slave ads' point to Freedom Seekers who made their way to the canal town of Rock Landing.
Why did Rock Landing become a ghost town?
Today, Rock Landing is just a name on a street sign.
In its heyday, Rock Landing was a major terminus on the Roanoke Canal. According to letters and writings from the era, it was slated to be the next New York City or Philadephia and was wondered metropolitan.
"There were taverns, restaurants, shops, a hotel and homes. A bustling port with workers eating lunch. People from New York speculated on the land. Some of my research shows it may have even had one of the first Oddfellows organizations," he said. "It was a canal boom town."
So why would such a metropolitan town eventually become a ghost town?
"The railroad came through and made the canal obsolete," said Green-Hockaday.
The railroad bypassed Rock Landing all-together, leaving the once-bustling port town out of the path of progress.
Even the famous Roanoke Canal itself has even been mostly flooded beneath the lake – forgotten by time.
However, there's a stretch still of dry land where people can hike or even visit the historic remnants at the Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail.
Along that stretch is a 200-year-old stone aqueduct built using enslaved labor that was also used to help freedom seekers escaping slavery along the canal.
Patsy Young inspires new generation of Black women working in brewing
According to experts at Good Beer Hunting, enslaved men and women played a major role in the history of beer brewing.
"It was enslaved people and other household laborers who were critical to beer production in the earliest years of American history," they wrote.
Young's ale was not only popular enough to earn her livelihood in freedom, but famous enough that her story and beer have continued to capture imaginations nearly 200 years later.
"Some local brewers and historians are working to try and re-create her beer in her name and honor her history and memory," said Green-Hockaday.
Celeste Beatty, owner and creator of Harlem Brewing Company – and Harlem Brew South in Rocky Mount – is the first Black woman in the United States to own a brewery. Beatty, who has made history as a brewer herself, is inspired by Patsy Young's story. So nearly 200 years after Young first brewed her famous ale, Beatty hopes to create a beer inspired by Young's story.
Learn more about Harlem Brewing South in Rocky Mount on their website.
A look at the rich history of Halifax County
Alexis Bellhttps://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/02/08/the-rich-history-of-halifax-county
Halifax County, N.C. — It was the first railroad hub of the South. It's a place where the first action was taken in 1776 declaring independence from Great Britain. Halifax County holds a place in American history, which includes the lives of freed and enslaved Black people.Three locations within the county are designated sites for the National Park Service's Network to Freedom: the old town of Halifax called Historic Halifax, the Roanoke River and the Roanoke Canal. The three sites were a part of the Underground Railroad Network...
Halifax County, N.C. — It was the first railroad hub of the South. It's a place where the first action was taken in 1776 declaring independence from Great Britain. Halifax County holds a place in American history, which includes the lives of freed and enslaved Black people.
Three locations within the county are designated sites for the National Park Service's Network to Freedom: the old town of Halifax called Historic Halifax, the Roanoke River and the Roanoke Canal. The three sites were a part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Through research in 2013, historian Rodney Pierce says he is one who made the connection to identify the Roanoke Canal as part of the journey.
Uncovering Black History
Pierce, from Halifax County, is dedicated to uncovering the untold history in his community. During the bulk of Pierce's research, he was the cultural resource leader at the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail.
"We knew that the Underground Railroad ran through the Town of Halifax, and we knew that it ran through the Roanoke River," said Pierce. "And so knowing that the batteaux (or boats) were driven by enslaved Black men who sometimes did not have white survivors, I hypothesized - these guys probably used these barrels that we were carrying salt and other goods in to sneak enslaved people to freedom."
Though uncovering history and his research, Pierce says he got the calling to become a teacher in his community.
"I also knew that if I wasn't taught what I learned while I was working here, then they probably weren't being taught that either," said Pierce. "So, they needed to know it."
Pierce says he wants to educate students on the full picture of the town's history so they know the role their ancestors played.
Confederate at Center
Beyond history, Pierce's activism in the community continues present day. Historic Weldon, also in Halifax County, was a bustling center of activity during the Civil War with several Confederate training camps in the area.
One Confederate statue still remains, in what is now a predominately Black neighborhood in Weldon. Pierce and neighbors are working to get the statue relocated to Historic Halifax.
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Angela Person, who is from Halifax County, still has family in the area and says she wants the statue to come down soon.
"Children are out and riding their bikes and trying to enjoy life as young Black children, and then they have this statue standing over them with a gun in his hands. And I would be threatened," said Person. "I would go home and ask questions. 'Why is there a man with gun standing, hovering over me?'"
Weldon's town administrator says he put together a relocation presentation on the statue and presented it to the Weldon Board of Commissioners. In over a year, the commissioners have not taken any action.
A separate stone that sat out front of the county courthouse, which honored a Confederate general, has since been removed.
The Cemetery
Learning the history of Halifax County means looking into one’s own family lineage. Pierce says he has always wanted to learn about his ancestors, but looking into the town's past was more natural for him.
One of his mentors and lifelong friends, Dr. Terence Wyche, is a genealogist who put in the work to find out his own family story. Wyche says for years he would spend time in the family records section of the Halifax County Library, looking for anything he could find on his ancestors, the Hawkins family.
Aside from the library, he would visit a cemetery. It’s where some of his ancestors are buried, and he knows their stories.
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“Reverend Captain Hawkins was not a slave, but his father was a slave. His name was Robert Hawkins, and he is listed in the slave register,” said Wyche. “Next to this is his mother-in-law, Lizzie Diggs Hicks, as well as his wife Sallie Diggs Hawkins."
He says this cemetery is where they believe Sary was buried. According to Wyche’s research, she is the first recorded Black Hawkins to come to Halifax County. Wyche says she was born around 1780 and, based on records he has uncovered, she is the start of 95% of the Black Hawkins family.
She is Wyche’s fifth-great grandmother, and Pierce’s sixth-great grandmother.
Wyche says while tending the cemetery one day, he got the call to look more into the stories of his family.
"I looked back, I head an inaudible voice - just in my mind it said 'tell our story,'” said Wyche. “And I sought to just make them come alive."
Connecting the Dots
Dr. Terence Wyche says many of his weekends in the '90s were dedicated to going to the Halifax County Library. He would go through the Bible records and the family records on file to find any information his could about his ancestors – the Hawkins family.
He says his mom and grandparents are the people who got him interested in his ancestry.
“There was no ancestry.com, so you had to go through the files,” said Wyche. “Open up these old documents and dust and everything just falling, you had no choice but to do it.”
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It’s a time consuming process, but for Wyche it was worth it.
“It was just so rewarding to just be able to just see that these names that you heard so much about, they began to become alive,” said Wyche.
Through his research he has put together two books on his family history. It includes hundreds of family members and copies of slave registries. He has information on how much money an enslaved person in his family was valued for by their slave owners.
His book includes information on the slave owners too – James Maddison Hawkins, and his family.
Reconnecting a Family
Dr. Wyche’s research means being able to connect with family members he never knew he before. He says at the first family reunion in 1995 close to 1,200 of Sary’s descendants were there. Sary is the first recorded Black Hawkins that Wyche has been able to find, born around 1780.
“We thought that was remarkable,” said Wyche.
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He says no matter if they were first cousins on 20th cousins, the family embraced each other.
Plenty of the family had not met each other before, or if they had met they didn’t know they were related. What they did share was similar stories.
“We couldn’t date, we couldn’t go traveling. We couldn’t go to a ball game with people,” said a cousin remembering how it was growing up in Halifax County. “Until my mom and dad approved of it. I thought they were just being over protective, but come to find out they were just looking out to make sure we weren’t dating our cousin.”
It’s stories they laugh about now, knowing their family connections.
NAACP North Carolina State Conference denounces 'Blue Ballot' in Halifax County
Richard Holm rholm@rrdailyherald.comhttps://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/local/naacp-north-carolina-state-conference-denounces-blue-ballot-in-halifax-county/article_75824f45-c1ed-56c3-baeb-5d2fc4cd2316.html
The NAACP North Carolina State Conference expressed its condemnation of an unauthorized use of its name on a sample “Blue Ballot” distributed in Halifax County.According to a press release from the organization on Thursday, Executive Director Da’Quan Marcell Love made a statement regarding the inappropriate use of the NAACP’s name and logo by Michael Hawkins Committee for Board of Education:“The NAACP North Carolina State Conference vehemently condemns the unauthorized and deceptive utilization of ...
The NAACP North Carolina State Conference expressed its condemnation of an unauthorized use of its name on a sample “Blue Ballot” distributed in Halifax County.
According to a press release from the organization on Thursday, Executive Director Da’Quan Marcell Love made a statement regarding the inappropriate use of the NAACP’s name and logo by Michael Hawkins Committee for Board of Education:
“The NAACP North Carolina State Conference vehemently condemns the unauthorized and deceptive utilization of the NAACP name on ‘Blue Ballots,’ allegedly funded by the Michael Hawkins Committee for Board of Education. These sample ballots, which contain endorsements for Democratic primary candidates, have been extensively disseminated throughout the Halifax County community,” the statement reads. “The NAACP has formally communicated with the campaign committee, demanding an immediate cessation of the use of the NAACP’s name to mislead the public. It is imperative to clarify that the NAACP neither has nor will ever endorse candidates for public office, regardless of party or level. The NAACP North Carolina State Conference remains committed to taking swift and appropriate measures to safeguard the integrity of the NAACP’s intellectual property and reputation as a trusted, nonpartisan civil rights organization.”
According to the two-sided “The Blue Ballot,” one side explains it is a collective initiative by community organizations that include the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, A. Philip Randolph Institute, fraternities, sororities, local churches and civic groups.
The Blue Ballot reads:
“This unified initiative aims to serve as a tool for greater unity and as a means of communicating to decision makers that thorough investigation and study has led to the following recommendations. The Blue Ballot endorses candidates and measures that align with the values and objectives of the collaborating organizations. It is a reflection of extensive research and analysis to support the advancement of economic development, educational excellence, health care, social justice, public safety, recreation, and more. We encourage all voters to consider The Blue Ballot and its endorsements as a valuable resource when casting their votes. Your participation in the electoral process can help promote positive change and progress in our communities, Halifax County, North Carolina and beyond.”
The document is signed off by Michael Hawkins, who is a retired educator of 25 years and is on the Halifax County Schools Board of Education.
On the other side of the document is a sample ballot for the Democratic Party Primary of the recommended candidates to vote for.
According to the SCLC and NAACP websites, both organizations are nonprofit.
According to the Internal Revenue Service website, under the Internal Revenue Code, all nonprofit 501©(3) organizations “are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position [verbal or written] made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.”
On Friday, David Harvey told the Herald the Halifax County Branch of the NAACP is still active, and he remains its president. Harvey said he supports the mission of the NAACP and all it stands for and work for a century.
“The NAACP has always worked to educate and push for voter turnout and getting our people to vote all over this country,” he said. “We recognize that in elections and anywhere in this country, when the candidates are running for office, different groups and different organizations put out ballots, and we recognize that. And sometimes some things can be put out that the NAACP may not completely support.”
Harvey said they feel there was no ill intent on behalf of the candidates running for office.
“It happens, but when it is brought to our attention, we address it, and we addressed this,” he said. “The issue has been addressed to the satisfaction of the NAACP, and we’re just moving forward from that.”
Harvey made it clear that the NAACP does not have a ballot that was put out and that it was a Hawkins ballot.
“I talked with him, and the ballots are being redone,” he said.
Executive Director Love told the Herald that the Halifax County branch of the NAACP has been inactive for a few years.
“In accordance with our bylaws, the State Conference retains programmatic jurisdiction in Halifax County,” he said. “And we are continuing as we do in any locality, to build membership and to bring that unit into compliance. We have been in contact with Mr. Harvey, who we are dealing with in our internal process. But Mr. Harvey does not speak for the NAACP, the North Carolina State Conference or our national office.”
Love said the organization is actively working to recruit and find members in Halifax County.
“There is no one outside of the State Conference that can speak for the NAACP and Halifax County,” he said.
Love also made it known that the organization has sent a cease and desist letter to the Michael Hawkins campaign.
“Our attorneys are reviewing legal options, and Mr. Harvey is receiving internal disciplinary action by our national office at this time,” he said.
Love said the organization is encouraging and looking for people to join the association and help expand the civil rights mission and plans to visit the county with the hopes of reactivating the branch.
“Folks that are interested in joining in and helping with the branch, we would love to have them,” he said.
Love said anyone who is interested can visit naacp.org and become a member.
Hawkins told the Herald he was working on remedying the situation but would not go into further explanation until he had had more discussion with Executive Director Love, who condemned the action on behalf of the NAACP North Carolina State Conference.
The Herald also reached out to James Mills, who is president of the Roanoke Valley SCLC and an HCS Board of Education member who is running for reelection and whose name was selected on the sample ballot. Mills declined to comment regarding the NAACP’s announcement.
The Herald reached out to some of the candidates on the sample ballot for comment.
Rep. Michael Wray (D-27), who is running against candidate Rodney Pierce in the Democratic Primary, was recommended on “The Blue Ballot.”
“Over the past twenty years, I have always run a positive campaign,” Wray said in a statement. “The ballot in question was not put out by my campaign. I commend the prompt response of the NAACP North Carolina Conference in protecting the NAACP’s name and reputation as a respected nonpartisan champion for civil rights.”
Pierce also provided the Herald with a statement regarding the sample ballot.
“I’m very troubled by the misrepresentation portrayed by the Hawkins campaign and whoever else was involved in the creation of that ballot,” he said. “The people of Halifax County deserve honesty from those asking for their vote, and it’s unfortunate that Hawkins felt the need to subject the area to this type of deception. I also want to commend the NAACP on their quick and clear response.”
Candidate Jimmie Silver, who is running for Halifax County Board of Commissioners for District 1, was not recommended on the ballot. Littleton Commissioner Ophelia Gould-Faison, who is running for the same seat against Silver, was recommended.
“I feel like it’s unethical, and it’s a betrayal of the citizens’ trust,” Silver told the Herald. “ I was hurt when I was informed the NAACP had endorsed the other candidate without interviewing me. They really took advantage of the NAACP and the SCLC, and it’s to no fault of those organizations that they did this. But if they’re willing to go out and use this kind of tactics, what would they do when they get elected in office to meet the agenda? And the other thing about it is that we’ve had James Mills with SCLC endorsing himself because he’s the president of the organization, and that’s in violation of the charter of the SCLC and also the tax code. But to me, and I know some of the other candidates, we feel like it has hampered our ability to raise funds, and it may have damaged our reputation for us — the ability to reach some of these other groups because people that feel like they’re the ones who are working for civil rights issues. They’re the ones who are going to be working for all people and stuff.”
Silvers said there may be more inaccurate information being circulated throughout the community.
“I just think people need to look at the candidates and vote for candidates who are going to be fair, have integrity, and be honest to them,” he said. “I am shocked that leaders such as Harvey, Hawkins and Mills would take such action.”
Gould-Faison provided comment regarding the NAACP’s recent announcement about the “Blue Ballot.”
“They have some concern, which I guess you are aware of, and from my understanding Mr. Hawkins is addressing that concern as it relates to the ‘Blue Ballot,” she said. “And I am on the ‘Blue Ballot.’ ”
The “Blue Ballot” notes that it was paid for by the Michael Hawkins Committee for the Board of Education and not created by the Board of Elections.
Fight between Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County over 911 center funding hits Appeals Court
CJ Staffhttps://www.carolinajournal.com/fight-between-roanoke-rapids-halifax-county-over-911-center-funding-hits-appeals-court/
The N.C. Court of Appeals is considering a legal dispute between Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County over the city’s role in funding a county 911 call center.Roanoke Rapids filed its brief in the case this week.Since 1998, county government has operated the only 911 call center within Halifax County. It’s technically referred to as a public safety answering point. It takes emergency calls and dispatches law...
The N.C. Court of Appeals is considering a legal dispute between Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County over the city’s role in funding a county 911 call center.
Roanoke Rapids filed its brief in the case this week.
Since 1998, county government has operated the only 911 call center within Halifax County. It’s technically referred to as a public safety answering point. It takes emergency calls and dispatches law enforcement officers to address those calls.
Roanoke Rapids and other municipalities have paid the county to cover a portion of the call center’s costs. Problems with that arrangement started after a 2013 amendment to the funding formula, the city argued.
“Since the 2015-16 fiscal year, the amount the County has asked the City to contribute increased dramatically based on the amended 2013 formula,” wrote attorney Geoffrey Davis, representing Roanoke Rapids.
The city’s required payment jumped from $225,390 in 2015-16 to $356,394 in 2020-21. “Moreover, irrespective of the year, the amount that the County expected the City to pay was significantly more than the amounts paid by the other municipalities in Halifax County,” Davis wrote.
“[I]t is noteworthy that under these agreements, the City has no material input in the County’s budgetary, personnel, or other management choices” regarding the call center, according to Roanoke Rapids’ brief.
A 2004 agreement between the county and municipalities created a Central Communications Advisory Board. It has representatives from affected public safety agencies. “[T]his advisory board is functionally powerless, and the County’s Board of Commissioners is not obligated to follow any of its recommendations or consider its input.”
Roanoke Rapids tried to negotiate a new agreement with Halifax County in 2020-21, but no agreement was reached. The city terminated the deal in June 2021.
As the two parties continued to discuss a new arrangement, Halifax County announced it would bill Roanoke Rapids $406,863 for the 2022-23 budget year. The county had billed the city for half that sum by the time the matter reached Superior Court.
“At the heart of the controversy between the City and County over this matter is the City’s assertion that beginning in 2010, changes to State laws governing the operation of PSAPs have had the effect of requiring the County as the operator of Halifax County’s sole PSAP to continue to provide PSAP service to the City’s public safety agencies irrespective of any financial contribution from the City,” Davis wrote.
“In response, the County denies this obligation, and has maintained that it is not permitted by law to expend County funds on providing dispatching services to municipal public safety agencies,” Roanoke Rapids’ brief continued.
Superior Court Judge Jeffery Foster ruled in January that Halifax County must make its 911 center available to Roanoke Rapids and take calls on the city’s behalf. But the judge also agreed with the county that Halifax was “constitutionally and statutorily barred” from bearing the center’s full costs.
Foster determined that the city must bear some costs of operating the county 911 center. The judge set a formula for calculating Roanoke Rapids’ cost: “the City’s percentage of the PSAP’s total annual call volume would be calculated and applied to the County’s actual costs for PSAP personnel for the year, rather than its budgeted costs.”
Roanoke Rapids appealed Foster’s ruling. Halifax County will have a chance to respond to the city’s latest arguments before the case heads to a three-judge Appeals Court panel.