August, 2018 - WIZS

Highway Patrol Requesting Public’s Assistance in Vance Co. Hit-And-Run

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

-Information courtesy Michael D. Baker, First Sergeant, North Carolina State Highway Patrol

On Saturday, August 25, 2018, at approximately 2:50 p.m., the State Highway Patrol was called to investigate a two-vehicle collision on NC 39 near Gillburg Rd in Vance County. A 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Jacob Aaron Elliott, 32, of Henderson, was traveling south NC 39. As Mr. Elliott slowed to make a left turn, he was struck from behind by a white SUV.

As a result of the collision, both Mr. Elliott and his passenger, Hunter Elliott, 6, of Henderson, were ejected from the motorcycle. Both were transported to Duke Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene after the collision. Authorities are looking for a white 2007-2011 Honda CRV and the driver in question. The SUV sustained damage to the right front quarter panel as a result of the crash. Photos of the vehicle were captured by surveillance video at a nearby convenience store.

Anyone with information and/or tips is encouraged to contact the State Highway Patrol at 1-800-662-7956.

At the request of Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, WIZS News is adding the following information to First Sergeant Baker’s original news release: “Contact Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or use the phone app P3tips. All information remains anonymous. If an arrest is made from your tip, you may be eligible for free money ranging from $50 to $2000. The amount given will be requested by the officer in charge and passed by the Crime stoppers board.”

Rubber Ducks Set to Race Down Garnett St. in 9th Annual Ducky Derby

August 30, 2018/by Kelly Bondurant

Garry Daeke, development coordinator for Franklin-Granville-Vance (FGV) Smart Start, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the organization’s 9^th Annual Ducky Derby Fundraiser.

This race of up to 2,500 rubber ducks will be held in downtown Henderson on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Rubber ducks will begin the race at the corner of Breckenridge and Garnett Street and will race two blocks to Orange Street. “We will open up the fire hydrants, run water and close off some side streets,” Daeke said.

Top prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 will be awarded for a first through third place finish. The last duck to cross the finish line will be awarded $100. Participants do not need to be present for the race to win a prize.

A drawing will also be held at the end of the race for 52 free meals from Chick-fil-A. You must be present to win this drawing.

Tickets for ducks are on sale now and are available for purchase from any F-G-V staff or board member. Ducks will also be available for purchase the day of the event from 10 a.m. until the race begins at 2 p.m.

Ducky options include $5 for a single duck, a “quack pack” of six ducks for $25 or a “flock” of 25 ducks for $100.

To ensure all enter the race in a timely fashion, Greystone Concrete Products of Henderson will pour purchased ducks along with approximately 500 – 1,000 additional gallons of water from their cement truck onto Garnett St.

According to Daeke, hearing the children’s excited reactions to the ducks being poured each year is part of the fun.

Daeke also acknowledged the important role sponsors play in the success of the annual fundraiser. “Most of these sponsors have been with us from the beginning or through the long-term and we want to thank them,” said Daeke. “Their support helps us to get this up and running so that it’s a successful fundraiser for us and our children, who are the benefactors.”

This year’s sponsors include:

Super Ducks – Duke Energy, Fred’s Towing & Transport, Union Bank and Mako Medical Laboratories

Top Ducks – NC Pediatrics, Chick-fil-A and University Dental Associates – Dr. Charles Burnham

Feathered Friends – Rogers Group, McDonalds, Sugar & Spice Preschool, Scotts Trucking Company and Wester Insurance Agency

Quacker Backers – WIZS Radio, Greystone Concrete Products, City of Henderson and Dataforge

All proceeds from the Ducky Derby are used to fund Smart Start programs.

Those interested in purchasing tickets, volunteering at the event or with questions may contact the F-G-V Smart Start office at (252) 433-9110 or visit the NC Smart Start website at www.ncsmartstart.org.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Henderson Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that yesterday in federal court, Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt sentenced QYDARIUS J. SMALL, a/k/a “Q” and “Peanut,” 20, from Henderson, North Carolina, to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On January 10, 2018, SMALL, was named in a three-count Superseding Indictment returned by a grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The indictment charged Small with Distribution and Possession With Intent to Distribute a Quantity of a Mixture and Substance Containing Fentanyl, Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death on August 28 and 29, 2017. On March 23, 2018, pursuant to a written plea agreement, SMALL pled guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, which resulted in the death of an individual.

On August 30, 2017, officers of the Henderson (North Carolina) Police Department responded to a report of a drug overdose at a residence. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found a deceased individual along with a hypodermic needle, multiple bindles of heroin, and a bindle of heroin uniquely labeled with a green stamp of the word “Thor.” The investigation revealed that the deceased was the victim of an overdose of heroin containing Fentanyl, and the drugs had been purchased from SMALL. A search of the victim’s cell phone revealed multiple text messages between the victim and SMALL discussing drug transactions and specifically a drug with a “Thor [e] green stamp.”

Later that same day, officers of the Henderson Police Department used the victim’s cell phone to arrange for a controlled purchase of heroin from SMALL. As SMALL drove to the prearranged sale location with the intent to sell heroin to the deceased victim, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found heroin stamped in green with the word “Thor” and a loaded handgun. SMALL was placed under arrest and taken to the Henderson Police Department.

United States Attorney Higdon commented, “Qydarius J. Small has been an active part in the opioid crisis and deaths that are tearing apart our country and destroying good communities like Henderson and Vance County, North Carolina. But now, with the imposition of a 144-month sentence, the people of Henderson can begin to recover from the horrible effects of Small’s actions. The Court’s sentence gives these communities that opportunity and we are very pleased that the United States Justice Department could play a role in achieving that result. I commend the Henderson Police Department for their excellent work in this case and bringing this man to justice.”

The case is a federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) criminal matter and was investigated by the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Gray prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted federally as part of the United States Department of Justice’s Opioid Initiative and the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Implemented in March 2018, the Take Back North Carolina Initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with local, state and federal law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement. The initiative targets those organizations and individuals who are responsible for increasing violent crime rates and drug trafficking – quickly routing the cases to federal court when prosecution in that venue would deliver the most significant impact.

News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter: @USAO_EDNC

Youth Fall Soccer & Volleyball Registration Extended Until Sat., Sept. 8

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department announces a registration extension until Saturday, September 8, 2018, for youth interested in fall soccer or volleyball.

Soccer ages are 4 -14 and volleyball ages are 7-14.

Registration fee is $40

For more information, please contact Steve Osborne at (252) 438-2670 or sosborne@ci.henderson.nc.us or Victor Hunt at (252) 438-3408 or vhunt@ci.henderson.nc.us

Granville Co. Chamber in Need of Volunteers for Final ‘Alive After Five’ of Season

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

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

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce is in need of volunteers for the third and final “Alive After Five” event of the year to be held Thursday, September 13, 2018, in the parking lot on Gilliam Street in downtown Oxford. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will feature Jim Quick and Coastline Band as musical guests.

Please contact wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919-693-6125 or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com or 919-528-4994 if you would be available to help.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Oxford Prep Announces First Annual 9-11 Memorial 5K Run

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

-Information and flyer courtesy Rick Kenner, Athletics Director, Oxford Preparatory School

Oxford Preparatory School will hold its first Annual 9-11 Memorial 5K run on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at the school, 6041 Landis Road, Oxford. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to park between 9:45 and 10:15 a.m.

Cost for adults (18 and over) is $20; children are $15. Each adult ticket comes with a free raffle ticket.

You may pay on site the day of the race or send payment to the attention of Rick Kenner – Oxford Preparatory School, 6041 Landis Road, Oxford, NC 27565.

Registration is available online by clicking here. For additional details, including contact information, please see flyer below.

Sneed, Louisburg Resident, Arrested on Nine Felony Drug Charges

August 30, 2018/by WIZS Staff

-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On August 28, 2018, The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. of 413 Ridley Street, Louisburg, NC on nine (9) felony drug charges.

This investigation was the result of citizen complaints alleging that Mr. Sneed was involved in illegal drug activity within Franklin County. As a result of these complaints, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit verified the information and coordinated an enforcement strategy with the Louisburg Police Department which ultimately led to Mr. Sneed’s arrest.

On August 28, 2018, The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. of 413 Ridley Street, Louisburg, NC on nine (9) felony drug charges.

In addition to the arrest of Mr. Sneed, a search warrant was conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Louisburg Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located during the search.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “When alert and concerned citizens see what they believe to be drug activity in their neighborhood and they contact our office with the information, we will respond. This is another example of how partnering with our police departments within the county is making our citizens safer.”

Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbot stated, “Our partnership with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is vital to the success of our drug initiative. Sheriff Winstead and I are committed to working together for safer communities”.

Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.

Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. 09/16/1989

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine (3 Counts) Sell Cocaine (3 Counts) Maintain a Dwelling place for the purpose of Selling Cocaine (3 Counts)

For more information regarding this arrest or to provide information to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at 919-496-2186.