Ruth Hartness – Vance County Board of Education District 7 Candidate

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Name: Ruth Hartness (incumbent)

Candidate For: Vance County Board of Education – District 7

Age: 78

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Board of Education – a total of 18 years of service

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Certification of Distinction for more than 400 hours of training offered by NC School Boards Association, Master Board Certification

 

What motivates you to want to continue as a Vance County Board of Education member?

What motivates me to want to continue my service on the Board? Wow, that is an easy question! The super, super teachers we have in our classrooms. They work so hard every day. They buy supplies with their own money. They are HEROS! The children they teach are our hope for tomorrow. We have a duty to provide them with the latest technology so they will be prepared to enter the real world.

Another reason I’m excited about the possibility of re-election is due to Dr. Anthony Jackson, our Superintendent!  He is the most exciting leader I have worked with in a long time.  He has a great vision for Vance County Schools and I want to follow him down that road.  All of this and more provides dynamic motivation and energizes me to work hard to continue in office.

 

What do you see as the Board’s primary roles and responsibilities?

The Board’s primary responsibility is to set policy and see that the Superintendent follows it – pure and simple.

 

What is your vision for the future of education in this community?

I envision a middle school offering students more possibilities and a comprehensive high school offering more courses and stronger athletic teams. Athletics can keep some students in school and they have to keep their grades up to play.

I would also like to see more CTE classes offered (career and technology). All of our students are not going to college and these classes prepare them for the workforce. We will continue to educate our students with knowledgeable and dedicated teachers and we won’t leave one of them behind!

 

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the Vance County Board of Education?

The biggest challenge facing the Board of Education is our declining student population. We have no control over where these students are going. Vance County is also experiencing a declining birth rate.

We have taken a big step in consolidating the middle and high schools, vacating two buildings which were draining us of much-needed funds. We will continue to monitor this trend and make other adjustments if necessary.

 

How would you handle the request of individuals and special interest groups?

Board members should not handle any individual request or that of special interest groups. I would refer those folks to the Superintendent. He is in charge.

 

(WIZS News will be publishing a series of candidate question-and-answer articles in the days leading up to the May 8th primary here on WIZS.com.  Significant portions will be broadcast on WIZS Radio with equal time allotted for each candidate.)

News 05/08/18

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I Voted Sticker

May 8, 2018 is Democratic Primary Voting Day!

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Tuesday, May 8, 2018, is the official voting day for the Democratic primary. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Vance County currently has 12 polling locations that serve 16 precincts.

**Live election results on WIZS 1450 AM and streamed live at www.wizs.com (click on Listen Live and live spreadsheet)**

According to Faye Gill, director of the Vance County Board of Elections, a total of 25,548 residents are eligible to vote in the primary election. This total includes 19,722 registered Democrats and 5,826 registered as unaffiliated.

The 4,430 voters registered as Republican are not eligible to vote in the primary election due to there being no contested Republican primary races in Vance County.

Any candidate who filed that is unopposed in Vance County will be on the November 6th general election ballot.

Early voting for the primary was available at three area locations from April 19 to May 5. According to Gill, a total of 2,182 eligible voters took advantage of early voting opportunities.

Contested democratic races include the Vance County Sheriff’s position and Board of Education representatives for the District 6 and District 7 seats.

For the sheriff’s seat, voters will select from democratic candidates Curtis Brame, Melissa Elliott or Billy Gooch. One of these candidates will proceed to face unopposed Republican candidate Charles Pulley in the general election.

Long-serving Vance County Sheriff Peter White did not file for re-election.

For the Democratic primary, eligible voters in District 6 will choose between Board of Education incumbent Margaret Ellis or challenger Omega Perry.

In District 7, Board of Education incumbent Ruth Hartness is being challenged by Marcia Allen.

 

VANCE COUNTY POLLING LOCATIONS:

  • North Henderson 1 – County Office Building – 305 Young St & Walnut St.
  • South Henderson 1 – H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library – 205 Breckenridge St.
  • East Henderson 1 – Henderson Middle School – 219 Charles St.
  • West Henderson (WH1 & WH2) – Central Fire Station – 211 Dabney Dr.
  • Northern Vance (EH2 & NH2) – Northern Vance High School – 293 Warrenton Rd
  • South Henderson 2 – L.B. Yancey Elementary School – 311 Hawkins Dr.
  • Hilltop – St. James Baptist Church – 3005 Hwy. 158 Business
  • Kittrell – Kittrell Fire Station – 54 W. Main St.
  • Middleburg – E.O. Young Elementary School – US 1 North
  • Sandy Creek – Aycock Recreation Center – 307 Carey Chapel Rd
  • Community College (Dabney & Watkins) – Vance-Granville Community College – 200 Community College Rd
  • New Hope (Townsville & Williamsboro) – New Hope Elementary School – 10199 NC Hwy 39 N

Curtis R. Brame – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Curtis R. Brame

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 55

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant Captain, Sheriff’s Command Staff, Personnel Board, Assistant to Administrative Captain

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Certified; Actively Sworn; 33 years of continued education

Endorsements: Vance County Sheriff Peter White

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

 I enjoy serving and protecting the citizens of Vance County. I’m tired of watching our citizens live in fear. I want the opportunity to restore some sense of security, ensure safety in our communities, schools, church and work.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

Talking to people and being proactive is my character and keeps me in touch with the needs of our community. With 33 years as a law enforcement officer, I am confident in saying I am well trained and skilled, possess a strong work ethic and have an excellent work history.  I believe in being fair and standing behind everything I do.

I’ve worked in every division through the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. I was hired as a deputy, later promoted to Sergeant, then Lieutenant, served as part of the Sheriff’s Command Staff and later retired with the rank of Captain. I believe in filling in the gap between law enforcement and the people we serve.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

The ability to not only hear the concerns of the citizen but to also listen to what is important to them.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

As a new administrator, I would make some adjustments, modifications and do some re-organization.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

Narcotics/illegal and prescription drugs and illegal use of firearms; proactive stand, joint enforcement task force. I would like to see more drug and weapons-related cases tried at the Federal Court level for the convicted to receive longer and stiffer penalties.

We need more resources for individuals with addictions. We also need places to go and things for our children and teenagers to do for growth and recreational purposes. My plan is to also increase personnel to have more manpower in the department to provide adequate services for our citizens.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Curtis R. Brame)

Melissa Elliott – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Melissa Elliott

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 48

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Gang Resource Officer; Jail Liaison; Vance County Sheriff Office 911 Dispatcher; Correctional Officer; Correctional Case Manager; Gang Intel Committee; Family Enrichment Worker

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Associate Degree in Criminal Justice – Vance-Granville Community College; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – St. Augustine University; Master of Public Administration – Strayer University; Post Master’s Certificate in Criminal Justice; General Instructor – Criminal Justice

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

I am running for the Office of the Sheriff to better the community in which I live and serve by implementing innovative strategies that would increase the safety in our community, as well as bring a greater quality of life to all of our citizens.

As a young girl, I felt compassion towards the needs of others and as a young woman acknowledged there was a great call of “leadership” on my life. Now, I am a community champion who embraces the call of God to bring change in areas that seemingly are difficult.

I am grateful and deem it an honor to be considered to serve the citizens of Vance County in the capacity of Sheriff.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I feel distinguished in this election for Sheriff in several different ways. First and foremost, I am a woman who fears God AND I am accessible to ALL people. I have proven my loyalty and dedication over the years in this community as one who hurdles over challenges and yields positive results and solutions.

Secondly, I have the educational background that, unmatched by any other candidate, makes me extremely and uniquely qualified and knowledgeable in the areas of crime prevention, as well as other evidence-based strategies that have been implemented by other jurisdictions. My Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) allows me to demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities that are pertinent to leading the Office of Sheriff.

The trust that I have garnered in the community, along with my diverse background in criminal justice (in several capacities) and my educational background (MPA, Post Master’s Certificate and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice) have prepared me for the tasks that lie ahead.

Lastly, I have extensive knowledge on a societal issue (gangs) that has plagued many communities. My in-depth research and relationships in criminal street gangs will also illuminate strategies that will prevent many youths from becoming emerged in a life that only ends in tragedy; intervene to save lives and suppress those who have no desire to change.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

The single most important skill to possess to be a successful sheriff is communication. Oral and written communication is key in the daily operation of any administration. The Sheriff needs to be able to effectively communicate with his or her staff, the public and the citizens that have elected them to serve. Communication involves executing directives, listening to the concerns of others to create and implement effective strategies for all who are involved.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

As the elected Sheriff, I would assess the effectiveness of all units and daily operations. After the assessment is complete, I would gradually implement strategies to improve the quality of service for citizens of our great county. I do not believe in recreating the wheel; however, I do believe in improvement. Training would be an essential tool as well as programs and evidence-based strategies for a more proactive approach to the challenges our community faces.

I strongly believe in prevention i.e. G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training), the Dare Program, the Step Up Initiative and other programs that would address mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Community Watch is also an extremely important program that would continue its momentum with workshops and speakers who bring information to the citizens as well as listening to the concerns of the community.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

Vance County has several concerns that are interrelated and it is extremely difficult to address only one and believe that the problem is fixed. Economic growth and development, or lack thereof, which has caused an extremely high poverty rate in Vance County has developed many challenges that we face. Gun violence, substance abuse, gangs, recidivism, changing the trajectory of our children’s future, weapons reduction; the list can go on and on.

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would hone in on prevention with our youth in the way of programs, by assigning deputies to work with students in the elementary school as well as the community through the G.R.E.A.T. program and partner with churches, nonprofits and other stakeholders to increase positive impact.

To reduce gang activity and criminal offenses I would implement a gang unit to focus on gang culture, trends and criminal activity, as well as put in place a system to classify and identify gang members in our community. I would also continue the momentum with the gun buyback program to obtain firearms.

Working previously in the Vance County Jail as well as the North Carolina Department of Public Safety has given me direct insight on the classification of offenders and the evidence-based programs that will assist in a productive transition. Obtaining the status from the Federal government to name our county as a HIDTA (High Intense Drug Traffic Area) would assist in many ways. The HIDTA program currently funds 752 initiatives throughout the nation, including:

  • Enforcement initiatives comprising multi-agency investigative, interdiction, and prosecution activities;
  • Intelligence and information-sharing initiatives;
  • Support for programs that provide assistance beyond the core enforcement and intelligence and information-sharing initiatives; and
  • Drug use prevention and drug treatment initiatives

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would listen to the citizens and their concerns as well as be accessible to all people by communicating effectively.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Melissa Elliott.)

Billy Gooch – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Billy Gooch

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 37

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Sergeant of Criminal Investigation Division/K-9 Handler at Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Training; Radar Operator Certification; DCI Certification; Police Law Institute Training; Narcotics Investigation; First Line Supervision; Taser Certification; Comprehensive Roadside Criminal Interdiction; Precision and Pursuit Driver Training; Police Law Institute Training for Supervisors; K-9 Instructor; NCAware Certification; CJ Leads Certification and NC Linx Certification

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

Not only as a law enforcement officer but also as a citizen of Vance County I was tired of seeing the community I was born and raised in continue to spiral downhill due to violence and drug activity. This is one of the reasons I decided to run for sheriff so I can bring the community back together and help pave a safer future for our youth.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I am young, energetic, honest and approachable. I don’t believe in being a paper-pusher or being absent from my duties. I want to be out in the community with my deputies being proactive and visible with a hands-on approach.

I have dedicated 15 and a half years of my life to serving the citizens of Vance County.  Even as a supervisor, I have served search warrants, executed drug raids, investigated crime scenes, worked murder investigations and performed K-9 tracks/searches. I will be a working Sheriff.

I know what it will take to make the department run more smoothly and efficiently. Being Sheriff of Vance County is more than just a title to me, it’s about stepping up to be a strong leader for our community, it’s about having more youth involvement as they are our future, and it’s about ensuring that the citizens in our county feel safe.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

In order to be a successful sheriff, you need to have strong leadership skills.  Strong leadership will instill in our deputies the eagerness to perform their job in a professional manner and to the best of their ability.  It will increase morale in the department which will restore a sense of pride and dignity in our deputies.

A strong leader will also regain trust in the community through effective communication and an open door policy.  We need a strong leader that is engaged in the community and keeps the community informed.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

After being employed with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for the past 15 years I have noticed some issues within the department’s chain of command.  I feel that I could make improvements by moving positions around to help the department run more smoothly and efficiently.

I would also like to bring in more experienced deputies. I have reached out to several past certified employees of the Sheriff’s Office who have expressed interest in coming back to the department to help me reach my goal of filling vacant positions.

The Sheriff’s Department needs to become more involved in the community, especially with our youth. I would like to build better relationships and trust between law enforcement and our citizens by hosting events that would bring the two together.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

I believe the biggest concern facing Vance County today is the opioid epidemic. Other crimes such as theft, burglary, assault, and murder also stem from drug activity. As Sheriff, I would expand our narcotics unit and make sure that the unit is fully staffed with experienced deputies that already have connections with state and federal agencies. A solid connection will allow us to speed up conviction rates of repeat offenders and make sure they are served with harsher sentencing.

I would also bring back the drug interdiction unit in an effort to intercept narcotics being transported through our county via major highways.  I would like to introduce a special enforcement unit to concentrate on high crime areas throughout the county. I would also implement drug awareness and prevention programs in our schools. By taking a proactive approach to our drug problem the crime rate in Vance County will gradually decrease.

 

The photo accompanying this article provided by Billy Gooch.

 

Charles Pulley – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Charles Pulley

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 57

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Lieutenant – Henderson Police Department (Retired)

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Certification; Advanced Law Enforcement Certification; Criminal Investigations Training – N.C. Department of Justice; Drug Unit Commander Training – University of North Florida; Major Case Investigation -Federal Bureau of Investigation; Interaction Management Program – N.C. Department of Justice; Community Oriented Policing – Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Training Center; Human Relations – State of N.C. Human Relations Committee; Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Training – United States Attorney’s Office/DEA; Investigations and Management of Hate Crimes – National Criminal Justice Academy; Federal Drug Enforcement Training – Drug Enforcement Administration

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

I am motivated to run for Sheriff because I care about Vance County. I can see that the violence and drug sales and drug abuse have increased dramatically over the past several years. I believe I have the experience and knowledge to lead the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in the right direction to reduce the drug and criminal activity.

Citizens expect law enforcement to keep their families safe whether at home or anywhere they may go in the county. We must address the violence and drug trafficking in our community. We must target and aggressively prosecute these individuals involved in criminal activity in our county.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I believe I have the training, knowledge and experience that the other candidates do not possess. I have experience in patrol, criminal investigations and narcotics investigations. During my 30- year tenure with the police department I was the Commander of the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit for 10 of those 30 years.

I supervised and coordinated hundreds of state and federal investigations. I prepared and submitted all budgets associated with the drug unit. We worked closely with all agencies including the SBI, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

I believe the most important skill to possess is the knowledge of each aspect of law enforcement; patrol, criminal investigation, narcotics and administration. A sheriff must have a working knowledge of all aspects of the department to be an effective leader.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

I would change the course of the department to address the current problem of violence and drug trafficking in our county. I have several plans that are included in my platform if elected Sheriff:

  • Citizens Advisory Board to meet periodically with the Sheriff to discuss concerns and information regarding their community.
  • Proactive Criminal Enforcement Team to patrol Interstate 85 and U.S.1 and other areas where drug trafficking is a problem. 80% of money seized is returned to the County and this money could be used to purchase vehicles and equipment needed to fight crime in our community.
  • A full-time Crime Prevention Officer to work closely with residents to create more community watch groups throughout the County.
  • E-Mail Alerts and other forms of electronic communication that could inform the public and media when and where crime occurs and other information that should be immediately released to the public.
  • Create and train a full-time Crime Scene Technician who would respond to homicides and robberies, as well as breaking and entering incidents at businesses and residences.
  • A Sheriff’s Citizens Patrol that could be operated by graduates of an Academy that would offer 40 hours of training in crime prevention and other areas of law enforcement.
  • A chaplain to provide specialized guidance, counseling and assistance to deputies and their families along with a program at the jail for inmates.
  • Restructuring and redirecting the Narcotics Unit to work with both State and Federal law enforcement authorities including DEA, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
  • Implement a career development program that would give employees an opportunity to not only attend state-mandated training but to continue their training in other fields of law enforcement.
  • Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) – a program taught by deputies in local elementary and middle schools. This program helps mentor and educate students on gang awareness.
  • Security/threat assessment – make sure locations have a plan in place to address emergencies and disaster whether natural or man-made. These locations would include businesses, schools, churches, daycare facilities and nursing homes.
  • Create a link for information on cold cases on the Sheriff Office’s website that would give residents a synopsis of the case and to ask for any information or details the public may have.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

I believe the biggest concern facing Vance County today is the heroin epidemic that is causing so many drug overdoses and overdose deaths. I would address this problem through undercover operations, search warrants, highway interdiction/investigation and prosecution through both State and Federal laws.

A narcotics unit must be proactive and identify the individuals involved in narcotics trafficking and aggressively investigate and arrest these individuals.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Charles Pulley.)

Oxford Board of Commissioners Meeting – Tues., May 8

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-Information courtesy of Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, City Hall.

Among the agenda items:

Public Hearing to receive citizen comments about a possible Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application that must be submitted by the City to the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEO), Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI) and/or the NC Department of Commerce – Rural Development Division (RDD).

Consider calling a public hearing for the June 12, 2018, meeting for a rezoning request from Attorney James C. Wrenn Jr. on behalf of HEW Rental, LLS requesting to rezone 4.8 +/- acres of land from B-2 (Hwy Business) to I-2 (General Industry) located at 322 Lewis Street.

Receive 2018-2019 FY budget from City Manager Alan Thornton.

Consider calling for a public hearing for the June 12, 2018, meeting to hear public input on the FY 2018-2019 budget.

Consider changing the current park operational hours which are different at each park and in some cases, not posted for the public to view. Establishing hours of use and posting them at each site will help keep the parks safe and the Oxford Police Department to enforce rules regarding after-hours use.

Consider authorizing the City Manager to sign Task Orders with McGill Associates for the 2018 Water & Sewer Improvement projects that the City received funding for from the Division of Water Infrastructure in March 2018.

Granville County Public Schools

Creedmoor Elementary to Celebrate Walk to School Day, Volunteers Needed

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— courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

Creedmoor Elementary School will join schools around the world to celebrate Walk to School Day on Wednesday, May 9, 2018! The event is organized in conjunction with the City of Creedmoor, the Creedmoor Police Department, Granville-Vance Public Health Department and Granville Greenways.

Students from Creedmoor Elementary School will walk to school along with parents, teachers and community leaders. The event will last from 6:45 – 7:45 a.m.

Students will arrive by bus or parent drop-off at Creedmoor Gymnasium & Activity Center, 108 E. Wilton Ave. They will then walk to school, using city sidewalks and crosswalks. Volunteers will help direct the flow of children and keep them on the sidewalks.

Volunteers are needed and can sign up at www.volunteersignup.org/HDP4K. Call Angie Perry, City of Creedmoor Event Coordinator (919) 764-1013 for more information.
NC Coop Extension

NC Cooperative Extension Seeking Summer 4-H Youth Interns

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-Information courtesy Crystal M. Smith, County Extension Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service – Warren Co.

NC Cooperative Extension is seeking summer 4-H youth interns to assist in Warren County. Interns will help with 4-H Summer Palooza, assist with 4-H activities, attend an educational field trip, greet youth and parents, attend meetings and have fun!

This program is for teens ages 13 – 18 who want to develop and improve their leadership skills. Teens must apply for an internship position, participate in leadership training, commit to volunteering in 4-H summer fun day camps, and complete a leadership project record book and resume.

This is also a great way for high school students to complete volunteer hours needed for graduation.

Interns must volunteer 35 hours from June – August.

Applications may be found online and should be completed by Thursday, May 31, 2018.

A youth training session will be held Monday, June 11, 2018, from 1 – 5:30 p.m. A parent meeting will be held from 6 – 7 p.m., on Tuesday, June 5. Both sessions will be held at the NC Cooperative Extension Office, Warren County Center, 158 Rafters Lane, Warrenton.

For more information, please call NC Cooperative Extension, Warren County office at 252-257-3640 or contact Crystal Smith via email at cmsmith2@ncsu.edu.