-Information courtesy Kristen King, Clerk to the Board, Franklin County
Due to Hurricane Florence, all Franklin County Government offices will be closed Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m.
WIZS will be bringing you updates on Hurricane Florence as new information is received. Please check the WIZS website, Facebook page and listen live to WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM for updates throughout the week.
The latest briefing from the National Weather Service can be found by clicking here. The forecast – including rainfall amounts, wind speeds and storm direction – is remaining steady from earlier today.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 13 at 10:30 a.m.
We should begin to feel the effects of the storm late this evening and tonight with conditions gradually worsening overnight and into tomorrow. They have increased our rainfall potential slightly but, other than that, nothing much has changed.
We have now officially decided to open the emergency shelter at Eaton Johnson Middle School located on Beckford Drive in Henderson at 5 p.m. today. Please DO NOT arrive early as no one will be there and the school will likely be locked until that time.
We are using our CODE RED system to get this message out to all of our citizens this morning. If you are not already signed up to receive messages on that system, please visit our web page at www.vancecounty.org/EM and click on the Emergency Alert System link to sign up. This system will be used to issue important notices prior to and after the storm’s impact.
We will be activating the Emergency Operations Center at 5 p.m. this evening and will begin 24-hour EOC operations at that time. As of now, we are at Readiness Level 1, which is our highest level in preparation for the storm. The 911 Center will be overstaffed as of 11 a.m. today and will remain that way throughout the storm. We are expecting the communications center to be extremely busy during the storm, so we are asking residents NOT to dial 911 for general questions to ensure that true emergency calls are able to get through.
Please “like” Vance County Emergency Operations on Facebook to stay up to date on what is happening with the storm. We will also continue to forward along all relevant information as it is received.
Stay Safe.
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Updated Thursday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m.
Hurricane Florence is approaching the coast and will slow today, and make landfall early Friday along the southern North Carolina coast, then slowly meander southwest into and across South Carolina. Confidence is HIGH that the event will occur; MODERATE confidence in expected impacts.
Strong sustained winds and gusts expected on Friday, likely persisting into the weekend. Strongest gusts expected across the southeastern coastal plain of NC. Flash and eventually river flooding likely beginning this evening and persisting through the weekend and into early next week. A risk for short-lived and weak tornadoes as the rain bands push ashore this evening through Saturday afternoon.
YOUR PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE IN PLACE NO LATER THAN MID-DAY TODAY!
Three Key Points
1. Hurricane Warning now in effect for Sampson and Wayne Counties. Tropical Storm Warning for Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Nash, Richmond, Wake and Wilson counties.
2. Prolonged, life-threatening inland flooding event from heavy rain is expected across much of southern and eastern N.C.
3. Dangerous winds will also result in downed trees which will likely culminate in widespread and prolonged power outages.
For a much more detailed breakdown of the current forecast, including expected wind speed and rainfall amounts in our area, visit the National Weather Service website by clicking here.
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County Schools celebrated the accomplishments and talents of the district’s top educators at the annual Excellence in Education Banquet held on September 11, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson.
During the event, an audience of about 150 people watched as Angela Cusaac, now a teacher at Vance County High School, received the prestigious award for Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019. Cusaac was presented a very nice trophy by Superintendent Anthony Jackson. She also received a new Toyota Camry from Henderson Toyota to drive for the next year as the district’s top representative for local teachers. Cusaac was selected last school year as the Teacher of the Year for Southern Vance High School. She competed for the coveted district Teacher of the Year title with a field of 14 other outstanding educators chosen as their respective school’s Teacher of the Year.
Davia Johnson, who last year was the Teacher of the Year for Eaton-Johnson Middle School, was named the runner-up in the district competition to Cusaac. Johnson now teaches at Vance County Middle School.
Dr. Carnetta Thomas, principal of L.B. Yancey Elementary School, was named the Vance County Schools Principal of the Year for 2018-2019. She also received a nice acrylic trophy for her award.
The Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year for 2018-2019 is Lemondre Watson, who was nominated for the award when he was an assistant principal last year at Eaton-Johnson Middle School. He is now an assistant principal at Vance County Middle School.
Finally, the district named Donna Stratmon, who last year taught at Northern Vance High School, as the Vance County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year for 2018-2019. Stratmon now teaches at Vance County High School.
Those nominees for the Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year included: Cusaac of Southern Vance High School; Johnson of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Sarah Jeffries of Aycock Elementary School; Mary Bowers-Taylor of Carver Elementary School; Connie Krupa of Clarke Elementary School; Sharonda Bullock-Morton of Dabney Elementary School; Linda Villa of New Hope Elementary School; Nicola Dobbs of Pinkston Street Elementary School; Regina Hilliard of E.M. Rollins Elementary School; Tameka Brown Burwell of L.B. Yancey Elementary School; Katie Tielking of E.O. Young, Jr. Elementary School; Vanessa Davis of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Cherie Dixon of Henderson Middle School; Nordia McLaughlin of STEM Early High School; and Sheri Evans-Bailey of AdVance Academy.
The nominees for Principal of the Year, along with Thomas, were Kristian Herring of Zeb Vance Elementary School (now STEM Early High School); Rey Horner of Southern Vance High School (now Vance County High School); and Stephanie Ayscue of AdVance Academy.
Educators nominated for the district’s Assistant Principal of the Year in addition to Watson were Joy Suther of Dabney Elementary School; Letitia Fields of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Kevin Ross of Northern Vance High School (now Vance County Middle School); and Darwin Carter of AdVance Academy.
Nominees for the Beginning Teacher of the Year award with Stratmon were Craig Harris of New Hope Elementary School; Melissa Matterson of Pinkston Street Elementary School; Le’Cresha Henderson of E.M. Rollins Elementary School; Debian Blackwood of L.B. Yancey Elementary School; Sallie Nelson of Eaton-Johnson Middle School (now Vance County Middle School); Layla Aldousany of Early College High School; and Steven Myerscough of AdVance Academy.
Angela Cusaac, second from right, receives her Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year award from, left to right, Ed Wilson and Ruth Hartness, both members of the Vance County Board of Education, Superintendent Anthony Jackson and Kedecia Stewart, the school system’s Teacher of the Year last year from Pinkston Street Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)
Dr. Carnetta Thomas, second from left, receives her Vance County Schools Principal of the Year Award from Superintendent Anthony Jackson, left, as they are joined by Ruth Hartness, Ed Wilson and Vance County Schools Principal of the Year for 2017-2018 Kristen Boyd of Aycock Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)
Lemondre Watson holds his trophy as the Vance County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year after he was presented the award by Superintendent Anthony Jackson. With them are Ruth Hartness, Ed Wilson and Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor-Crosson, last year’s Assistant Principal of the Year who is now principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)
Donna Stratmon holds her Beginning Teacher of the Year award as she is joined by, from left, Ed Wilson, Ruth Hartness and Superintendent Anthony Jackson. (Photo Credit Vance Co. Schools)
-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties, NC Cooperative Extension
The gardening public is invited to attend a “Gathering of Gardeners: Practical Strategies for Gardening in Challenging Times and Conditions” on September 22, 2018, 9 a.m. to noon. Gardeners in Warren County and surrounding areas can learn about straw bale gardening, rain barrels and more at this workshop sponsored by the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers.
Participants can also get their gardening questions answered from a panel of Master Gardener volunteers. The event will be held at Buck Spring Park near Lake Gaston, located at 217 Nathaniel Macon Dr. Registration is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. All the details are available at https://warren.ces.ncsu.edu/ or by calling 252-257-3640.
— courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com
Granville County Economic Development, in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, will present its annual ‘Business and Industry Appreciation Day’ on Thursday, September 27 from 4 until 6 p.m. The event, held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center (4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford), will provide opportunities for participating businesses and manufacturers to network and to learn more about the services and resources available in the area. A brief program will also be held, including remarks to recognize the contributions made to the county by local employers.
Organizations, agencies and businesses offering any type of service or program beneficial to other businesses/industries in the county – meeting space, training, office supplies, technology, finance, insurance, etc. – are invited to set up a display area to share their information with those in attendance. Registration is required and there is no charge to participate. Reservations will be taken until September 24.
Held annually for more than 10 years, Business and Industry Appreciation Day was initiated to celebrate the achievements of local business owners and the industrial decision-makers and employees who enhance the quality of life in Granville County.
“This event just keeps getting bigger and better,” said Harry Mills, Economic Development Director for Granville County. “Our businesses and industries continue to grow and expand and are quickly becoming a force in the Research Triangle region.”
The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
To reserve space at this year’s Business and Industry Appreciation Day event, contact Lynn Cooper at the Granville County Economic Development Department at 919-693-5911 or lynn.cooper@granvillecounty.org.
Franklin County Solid Waste Facilities to Close Friday, September 14
As a safety precaution for residents, haulers and staff, Franklin County’s twelve solid waste and recycling convenience centers and Solid Waste Transfer Station will be closed on Friday, September 14 due to the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Florence and potential for high winds, downed trees and power lines and flooded roadways.
Franklin County Administrators, Emergency Management officials and Solid Waste Department staff will monitor severe weather conditions and impacts of Hurricane Florence to determine when it will be safe to reopen the convenience centers and the Transfer Station. For updates on when the solid waste facilities will reopen and disposal options, please call the 919-340-4670 or visit www.franklincountync.us/recycles.
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
Seniors age 55 and better are invited to join the Aycock Rec. Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road, Henderson, for community bingo. Bring a prize and a little luck!
Bingo will be played from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. on the following dates:
Thursday, October 4 & 25, 2018
Thursday, November 1 & 15, 2018
Thursday, January 3 & 17, 2019
Thursday, February 7 & 21, 2019
For more information, please contact Crystal Allen at (252) 431-6091 or callen@ci.henderson.nc.us
-Information courtesy Henry L. Gupton, Clerk of Superior Court, Vance County
All Vance County Government buildings will be closed tomorrow, Friday, September 14. The Clerk of Court’s Office will also be closed and will plan to reopen on Monday, September 17.
Vance County court sessions scheduled for Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14 have also been canceled.
-Information courtesy the Vance County Government Facebook page
Due to the weather, all Vance County Solid Waste Convenience Sites will close at 3 p.m. today, September 13, and will re-open on regular schedule Monday, September 17, 2018.
