Munn Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of First Degree Murder

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-Press Release, Office of District Attorney Michael D. Waters

On Monday, April 30, 2018, during a session of Warren County Criminal Superior Trial Court, Kevin Burton Munn entered pleas of guilty in two counts of First Degree Murder. One count of First Degree Murder in the death of Vance County businessman James Thomas “Tommy” Ellington, Jr., and one count of First Degree Murder in the death of Lake Gaston resident Nancy Bowling Alford.

As part of his agreement, Mr. Munn will cooperate with authorities as to the investigation of other individuals involved in these cases, in exchange for two consecutive life sentences. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Henry W. Hight, Jr. continued sentencing in this matter.

Below are statements from the Ellington and Alford families:

“The Ellington family continues to be grateful for the dedication of local and state law enforcement working in conjunction with the DA’s office to pursue justice in Tommy’s murder case. While today’s events will not replace the void we all feel with Tommy’s loss, our prayer is that it will aid the healing process for family and friends, as well as bring more peace of mind to the community. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to comment further at this time.” – The Ellington Family

“The events of March 9, 2018, changed our family forever. We will forever be grateful to all of the law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to apprehend the men responsible and who continue still to work in the investigation process. We are also very thankful to the Office of the District Attorney for their dedication to this case. We know that all of these people have put us on the path toward justice and pray daily for their continued resolve to bring safety to the communities they serve.” – The Alford Family

Retired Granville Schools Leader To Address VGCC’s Basic Skills Graduates

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Dr. Dorwin L. Howard, Sr., retired leader of the Granville County Public Schools, will deliver the keynote address as Vance-Granville Community College holds commencement exercises dedicated exclusively to new graduates of Adult Basic Skills programs on Thursday, May 3. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

Those being honored at the ceremony will include students who have completed either the Adult High School Diploma program or the High School Equivalency program in the past year.

Dr. Howard, a native of Oxford, began his 37 years in education as a classroom teacher at his alma mater, J.F. Webb High School. He later became a school and district administrator, completing his career as the first African American to serve as superintendent of the Granville public schools. 

“I viewed each station in my profession as an opportunity to serve the children, their families, school district employees, and members of the community-at-large,” he said. Dr. Howard, who retired in July 2017, said, “I worked intently on creating inspiring teaching and learning environments and leading the district in a three-year positive trend in student academic achievement.”

In the 2015-16 school year, the students in his district ranked first among public school districts in the state of North Carolina in the amount of academic growth they achieved in a year’s time.

Dr. Howard earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, a Master of Arts Degree in School Administration and Supervision from North Carolina Central University in Durham, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He also did graduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

Still a resident of Oxford, Dr. Howard serves on the Oxford State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board and is a member of the North Carolina Central University School of Education Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Kerr Tar Workforce Development Board, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Granville County Human Relations Commission.

Dr. Howard is also an ordained Baptist minister. He has pastored two churches in Roxboro and presently serves as Interim Pastor of the First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students during the ceremony will be Jennifer Pascual of Henderson. A native of Vance County, Pascual completed her High School Equivalency earlier this month after attending classes on the Main Campus.

She plans to enroll in classes at VGCC to become a registered nurse, following a lifelong dream of becoming a healthcare provider. After getting her Associate’s Degree in Nursing, she plans to work on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to be able to care for the sick and disabled and to educate people on disease prevention.

Oxford Prep Golf Team Competing in 1A Mideast Regional Championship

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-Information courtesy of Coach Rick Kenner, Oxford Preparatory School

The Oxford Preparatory School golf team recently finished 2nd in the North Central Athletic Conference (NCAC) behind Franklin Academy. Jacob Bliss (junior) and Wesley Aitken (sophomore) tied for 2nd place in the individual standings.

Oxford Prep will be competing and hosting the 1A Mideast Regional Championship Tournament on May 1, 2018, at Kerr Lake Country Club. First tee time is at 9 a.m.

The top three teams and six individuals who are not on one of the winning teams will move on to the state championships May 7 – 8 in  Pinehurst, N.C.

Participating teams include Oxford Prep, Granville Central, Raleigh Charter, River Mill, South Davidson, Uwharrie Charter, Voyager and West Columbus.

Players from Oxford Prep include Wesley Aitken, Jacob Bliss, Christian Furr, Capers Pendergrass, Adam Sizemore.

Granville Chamber of Commerce Sunrise Forum – Friday, May 11

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-Press Release, Granville County Chamber of Commerce

You are invited to the Granville Chamber Sunrise Forum on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 7:45 a.m. featuring guest speaker Anthony M. Copeland, N.C. Secretary of Commerce. The forum is hosted by the Town of Butner.

Location: Butner Town Hall – 415 Central Ave., Butner, N.C.

Light breakfast items will be served!

Please RSVP by Friday, May 4 to Butner Town Hall – 919-575-3032 or Granville County Chamber – 919-693-6125 or 919-528-4994 or by email – wanda@granville-chamber.com or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

ANTHONY M. COPELAND, Secretary of Commerce, the State of North Carolina

Tony Copeland became North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce in January 2017, named to the post by Governor Roy Cooper and marking a return to the agency for the experienced business executive. Earlier in his career, Mr. Copeland served as Assistant Commerce Secretary, leading the recruitment of nearly $12 billion in investment and the creation of 100,000 jobs. In this capacity, he worked with numerous international companies in China, Japan, Europe, South Korea and Israel, as well as a variety of domestic companies. 

 

Tony Copeland’s experience spans a wide range of economic development and business leadership roles. During the past decade, as a partner of a major law firm and owner of his own firm, Mr. Copeland has brought significant new corporate investment into North Carolina from both domestic and international sources. He brings an insider’s knowledge of the ways corporate investment and site decisions are made.

Mr. Copeland also served as executive vice president, secretary and general counsel of a telecommunications company, where he led the company’s growth from $38 million in revenues to more than $250 million. He led the senior executive team that secured $500 million in equity financing and planned, financed and installed more than 5,000 miles of fiber optic cable in the Carolinas and along the eastern seaboard. A native of Perquimans County, Mr. Copeland is a graduate of Duke University and the Western Michigan University School of Law.

Oxford Board of Commissioners’ Meeting – Tuesday, May 8

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The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their next regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. inside the Commissioners Board Room at City Hall – 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford.

At this meeting, there will be a public hearing to receive citizen input as to the needs of low and moderate income residents and neighborhoods within the City of Oxford.

NC Coop Extension

Vance Co. Cooperative Extension – Weekly Parenting Tip

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-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension

Parenting tip week of 4/30/18

Is your child active enough?

Children should be active at least an hour a day. If you can answer yes to these questions, your child is probably getting enough daily activity.  Does your child play outside several times a day and can he or she freely move around when playing? Does your child get less than 2 hours a day of screen and TV time? When your child actively plays, does he or she breathe quickly or sweat? Make sure your child is active by having active fun as a family and setting limits on screen time!

WIZS Beach Music Blast Debut

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Starting (tomorrow) May 1, 2018, the WIZS Beach Music Blast program will air M-F from 12 noon until 1 p.m.

May 1, 2018 is also the 63rd birthday of WIZS Henderson, which first came on the air May 1, 1955 as WHVH.

The WIZS Beach Music Blast debuted today from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on WIZS 1450 AM in the Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin County area.  For upcoming shows, you can also listen anywhere on wizs.com.  Click on Listen Live.

Click here for a video about our new show.

Trey Snide (Host) and Mr. Pat Christie — first ever interview on the Beach Music Blast

Appearing as guests today were: Terri Gore, the original Carolina Girl, Craig Woolard of The Embers and Julian Fowler of KHP Music along with the show’s very first guest and guest host of the day Pat Christie.

The new WIZS program schedule for Monday through Friday will be:

11 a.m. – TownTalk

11:30 a.m. – Tradio

12 noon – Midday Local News

12:04 p.m. – WIZS Beach Music Blast

1 p.m. – Sports Mayhem

News 04/30/18

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Henderson Police Department

Narc Arrest Nets Drugs & Firearm

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-Press Release – Henderson Police Department

4/26/2018- Narcotic Officers of the Henderson Police Department, assisted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants at 314 N. Clark Street and 1727 N. Garnett Street.

The search warrants, along with a vehicle stop, yielded 27 grams of cocaine, a firearm, 86 grams of marijuana, 4 dosage units of heroin, $4,040 in US currency, and the seizure of a 2007 Ford F-150.

James Thomas Edwards Jr. AKA “Pop”, 49, was arrested for Poss. Sch I, (2 counts); Manufacturing Sch II, (2 counts); PWIMSD Sch II, (3 counts); PWIMSD Sch VI, (3 counts); Manufacturing Sch VI; Maintaining a Vehicle, (2 counts); Maintaining a Dwelling, PWISD within 1000′ of a School, Poss of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Poss of Drug Paraphernalia.

The arrestee was taken to the Vance County Jail with a court date set for May 8, 2018.

Picture provided courtesy of the Henderson Police Department

Vance County Schools Honors Volunteers, Business Partners

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

Officials with Vance County Schools awarded a total of 88 school volunteers and business partners with plaques and certificates during the school system’s annual Volunteer/Business Partner Recognition Reception held on April 25 at the Henderson Country Club.

Principal Harold Thompson, Jr. of New Hope Elementary School, presented Eboni Terry with the plaque for her recognition as the school system’s Volunteer of the Year for the 2017-2018 school year. Terry was selected for the honor from an outstanding group of school volunteers who all earned their respective school’s Volunteer of the Year award. 

In addition to Terry, the school Volunteers of the Year include: Amanda Gill of Aycock Elementary; members of Cokesbury United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ of Carver Elementary; Tamara Glover of Clarke Elementary; Yolanda Wilson of Dabney Elementary; Curtis Durham of Pinkston Street Elementary; Woody and Sandra Woodland of E.M. Rollins Elementary; Amparo Villalobos of L.B. Yancey Elementary; members of Guided Start United Holy Church of E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary; Catherine Parham of Zeb Vance Elementary; Rev. John Miles and his Risen Faith Outreach Ministry of Eaton-Johnson Middle; Brenda Burton of Henderson Middle; Joanna Whittacre of STEM Early High; Sofia Miller-Ford of Early College High; members of Central Baptist Church of Northern Vance High; and Fanta Terry of Southern Vance High.

The members of Clearview Baptist Church again were recognized as the top business partners for the current school year. The church actually received the Shining Moment Award in late January at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

Other top business partners honored were First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, Flat Rock United Methodist Church, Henderson Family YMCA, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks, Kiwanis Club of Henderson, Mazatlan Restaurant, MiLibroHispano.org, Optimist Club of Henderson, The Science House at N.C. State University; Townsville Lions Club, Toyota of Henderson, Versatrim and Zeb Vance Ruritan Club.

Each recipient received their award from Superintendent Anthony Jackson and Vance County Board of Education members Darlynn Oxendine, chairperson, and Edward Wilson.

Students in the fifth-grade chorus at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, under the direction of music teacher Cindy Edwards, performed for the approximately 150 people attending the recognition reception.

Photo Information:
Eboni Terry holds the plaque she received as the Vance County Schools Volunteer of the Year for 2017-2018 after it was presented to her by Principal Harold Thompson, Jr., of New Hope Elementary School, left.