U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney Announces Appointment of Three New Federal Prosecutors

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced today the appointment of three new Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs). Each was sworn in today by Mr. Higdon.

Gabriel J. Diaz is a former intern of the United States Attorney’s Office and was an Assistant District Attorney with the Alamance County (NC) District Attorney’s Office from 2015 until his appointment as AUSA. AUSA Diaz is a graduate of Florida International University and the Campbell University School of Law. AUSA Diaz will be assigned to the National Security Section within the United States Attorney’s Office.

Robert Dodson comes from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) where he has served as legal counsel since 2013. During his time with BOP, he served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney handling criminal prosecutions arising out of the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina. AUSA Dodson is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He will be assigned to the Violent Crime Section, handling a variety of cases in conjunction with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ reinvigoration of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program which targets violent criminals in an effort to reduce violent crime. He will also become a part of the United States Attorney’s Office “Take Back North Carolina” initiative.

Lucy Partain comes from the Cherokee County (Georgia) District Attorney’s Office where she served as an Assistant District Attorney. Prior to that, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Ms. Partain is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Duke University Law School. Ms. Partain will be assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Task Force Unit and will handle drug trafficking cases, including opioid prosecutions.

“It’s my privilege to lead an office filled with incredibly talented and dedicated people who work tirelessly to carry out our mission of justice and fulfill our promises to the people of the Eastern District to reduce violent crime and reduce drug trafficking levels,” said U.S. Attorney Higdon. “We are proud to welcome these fine individuals to our office. I know they will make an immediate impact in our District and serve the citizens of the United States with honor and distinction.”

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_EDNC

Granville County Public Schools

Annual Granville Co. ‘New Teacher Breakfast’ to be Held Fri., Aug. 17

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

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce and Granville Health System are sponsoring the annual New Teacher Breakfast on Friday, August 17 at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria at Mount Energy Elementary School, 2652 Hwy 56, Creedmoor. This event welcomes and recognizes new employees to the Granville County Public School system and allows them an opportunity to meet local elected officials, as well as business and agency leaders in Granville County.

Presiding will be Hal Muetzel, President of the Chamber, with remarks from Granville Health System – event sponsor.

Granville County Chamber banking, investment, real estate, property management and insurance members are being invited to set up business displays to provide information for the newcomers.

Teacher gift bag items are requested. Chamber of Commerce member businesses contribute items for gift bags for the 100 new teacher employees. Businesses interested in donating gift bag items should contact either of the Chamber’s offices – Toni Anne Wheeler, (919) 528-4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com or Wanda Garrett, (919) 693-6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com.

Vance County Logo

Free Expungement Clinic to Offer Possibility of Fresh Start

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-Information courtesy Tracy Edwards, Child Support Enforcement Supervisor, Vance County Child Support

Is your criminal record holding you back? Join us for a FREE Expungement Educational Clinic on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, to see if you are eligible for a
fresh start.

This Legal Aid Clinic is made possible by Vance County Child Support, Gateway to Employment, the New Start Reentry Program and Legal Aid of North Carolina. For further information, call Vance County Child Support at (252) 431-1200.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Summer Musical Movie Matinees for All Ages at Perry Memorial Library

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-Information courtesy the Perry Memorial Library website

2018 Summer Musical Movie Matinees at Perry Memorial Library:

Friday, July 27 at 1 p.m. – “Enchanted” – Rated PG

Thursday, August 2 at 1 p.m. – “Mary Poppins” – Rated G

Thursday, August 9 at 1 p.m. – “Grease” – Rated PG-13

Friday, August 17 at 1 p.m. – “The Sound of Music” – Rated G

Movies will be shown in the Farm Bureau Room of the Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson. Food and drink are allowed during the movie! All ages are welcome to attend.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 07/23/18

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Current Help Wanted Items

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Town Talk 07/23/18

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News 07/23/18

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State Board Approves Dr. Burns as Interim President at VGCC

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College 

The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges has approved the appointment of Dr. Gordon Burns as the interim president of Vance-Granville Community College.

The former leader of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro was the longest-serving president in the history of the western North Carolina college, retiring in 2014 after 18 years at WCC and 46 years in education.

The approval came today (Friday, July 20) at the regular meeting of the State Board, held this month at Pitt Community College in Winterville, following the VGCC Board of Trustees’ selection of Dr. Burns as its choice for an interim.

Dr. Gordon Burns, retired president of Wilkes Community College, has been named the interim president of Vance-Granville Community College. He will lead the college while the Board of Trustees searches for Vance-Granville’s seventh president. (VGCC Photo)

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the sixth president of VGCC, announced plans in May to take the position of Vice President for Durham Affairs at Duke University, effective Aug. 13. Dr. Burns will work alongside Dr. Williams for his first two weeks at Vance-Granville and will officially become the interim president on Aug. 11.

“We are excited to get someone of the caliber of Dr. Burns to help lead Vance-Granville during this time of transition,” said Danny W. Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “At Wilkes Community College, Dr. Burns demonstrated an ability to assemble and lead a strong team of administrators, faculty and staff that took their college to new heights during his tenure.”

“We feel very fortunate that, after just a few years of retirement, he still has a burning desire for community colleges and the excellent work we do to educate students of all ages.”

Vance-Granville will be his fourth community college home in North Carolina. Prior to his time at WCC as president, Dr. Burns served as executive vice president at Lenoir Community College in Kinston, and as vice president for instruction and dean of continuing education at Wilson Community College in Wilson. After completing high school in Easton, Pa., Dr. Burns earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky., and his Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Missouri in Columbia. His Ph.D. major was Industrial Education with support areas in Educational Administration and Industrial Management.

Dr. Burns described his management style for the VGCC Trustees as “participatory.” “I like to engage and I like to involve the staff, faculty and students in the life of the college, the decisions that are made, the planning that is done and the execution of those plans,” he said. “I can honestly say that much of what was accomplished in my career was not accomplished by me. It was accomplished by the people that I supervised and that I worked with as team members.”

Operations will be the top priority during the transition, he said. “The ultimate compliment at the end of the period would be that we didn’t miss a beat, that the college continued on its journey. I would not be here to change things so that things would be done in the Burns way or in the Wilkes Community College way. They need to be done in the Vance-Granville way with the Vance-Granville people.”

“Dr. Williams has continued the journey of creating a great work environment and a great learning environment here and a supportive one for all, the students, the faculty and the staff and has worked well with Trustees in the governance of the institution,” he added.

At Wilkes Community College, Dr. Burns is credited with leading the college through a period of significant growth and successes in enrollment, donations to the college’s Endowment, construction and renovation projects, technology, academic offerings, planning, and school, university, business and industry partnerships.

At the VGCC Board of Trustees’ July meeting, a search committee of six Trustees was appointed to find the permanent president. Deborah F. Brown was appointed chair of the search committee, and Herb Gregory was named vice chair. Rounding out the committee are N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester. The committee was selected by Trustees Chair Wright.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education Appoints Five New Principals

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

At a special called meeting on Thursday, July 19, the Granville County Board of Education appointed five new principals in schools across the school district.

Superintendent Dr. McLean communicated to Board Members that these changes will help continue to support efforts to move the district forward, saying, “I am confident that these newly appointed leaders will continue to help bring about positive change.  I am grateful for the staff and community members who helped in the process of their selection as candidates for these positions.”

Dr. McLean also spoke about the direction the district is headed, commenting on her commitment to involving stakeholders and a focus on always doing what is in the best interest of the students of the district. “With input from the community, this past year we developed a newly crafted mission and vision for the district. We need dynamic and active leaders such as these five individuals to help bring it to life. We look forward to unveiling that soon to the public and believe it will continue the momentum and excitement we have built over this past school year. We are so excited about what the future will bring for the students of our school district! They deserve nothing but the very best.”

The following individuals will transition to their new principal roles during the next two weeks. Staff from across the district, including our year-round schools, are already working tirelessly to prepare for a smooth start to the 2018-2019 school year. We truly are committed to excellence and achievement for all!

Janita Allen

Principal of Granville Central High School
(previously Assistant Principal of GCHS)

Amy Rice

Principal of JF Webb High School
(previously Principal of Stovall Shaw Elementary School)

Dr. Chris Ham

Principal of GC Hawley Middle School
(previously Principal of Mary Potter Middle School)

Dr. Brenda Williamson

Principal of Mary Potter Middle School
(previously Assistant Principal of Mary Potter Middle School)

Sherrie Burns

Principal of CG Credle Elementary School
(previously Assistant Principal of CG Credle Elementary School)