VIPERS FOOTBALL PREVIEW
VIPERS FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Warren County at Vance County
Saturday, November 3rd, 2018
6:00 PM
Can Vance County High School end its first regular football season with back to back wins? The Vipers have their chance on Saturday when they host the Eagles of Warren County.
The Vipers, now 3-7 (2-3 Northern Carolina Conference) narrowly escaped winless J. F. Webb 14-13 at Vance County’s first Homecoming game last Thursday night, and are fortunate to have the home field again for Saturday’s match-up, which was postponed from September 14. The Eagles, 2-7 (1-4 NCC) will meet a more experienced and confident nest of Vipers on Saturday than the winless VC team they would have encountered 6 weeks ago, and Warren County has struggled since September 14, losing 5 in a row.
A win on Saturday might give the Vipers an outside chance at a playoff birth, and Warren’s defense is weak. However, the two offenses are very similar, scoring an average of three touchdowns per game. Crisp passing from Viper QB Samien Burwell, more catches from his receivers, and far fewer penalties should give Vance County that win, and a repeat of last week’s great running game from Devonte Evans wouldn’t hurt, either.
Catch all the live action of Vance County Friday Football on WIZS 100.1 FM / 1450 AM and online at www.wizs.com kicking off at 6:00 PM.
Dr. Anthony Jackson Talks School Consolidation Success, State of the Schools
Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the success of the school consolidation process and his recent State of the Schools address.
Jackson began the show by thanking the community for the support the school system received throughout the entire consolidation process for Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.
“From the day the school board made the decision to consolidate the schools to the opening of school, we had approximately 120 days,” said Jackson. “I’m so proud of this community, our students, our parents and our staff for the work that they did during that period of time to get us to what we like to call ‘the launch.'”
According to Jackson, the launch of the newly consolidated schools in August went smoothly and was a great start to the 2018-19 school year.
“What we have seen since is what we hoped would come to fruition – a community coming together. I was at the football game a few nights ago and it was a joy to see the number of kids on our sidelines participating and the number of parents in the stands,” Jackson said.
State of the Schools Address
In Jackson’s recent address to the public, he announced that the majority of the system’s 15 schools showed marked improvement during the previous school year. “When I arrived in Vance County, nine schools were designated as low-performing. This year, I’m pleased to announce that 11 of our 15 schools met or exceeded growth and received a school performance grade of a C or better.”
Jackson credits this success to a number of factors including a shift towards focusing on the best way to reach and teach each individual student. “We focus on high student achievement by figuring out how best to teach every child – not just the low or high performers. Every single child deserves the best education,” said Jackson.
Other factors, according to Jackson, include making the environment as safe as possible so teaching and learning can take place, hiring and retaining high-quality educators and being efficient with resources.
“We change mindsets about what we can do in this community and if we work together, we can accomplish our goals.”
To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.
Severe Weather Predicted for Thursday Evening, All Day Friday
-Information and weather charts courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
According to the National Weather Service, there is a marginal risk for severe weather Thursday evening through Friday evening.
Severe weather may include isolated thunderstorms that develop late tonight and toward daybreak on Friday across the Coastal Plain and the eastern Piedmont. A strong to severe storm is possible with a primary threat of wind gusts in excess of 50 MPH, which may produce downed trees and power outages.
Pantry Shelves ‘Dangerously Low’ at ACTS of Henderson!
-Information courtesy the ACTS of Henderson Facebook page
ACTS of Henderson needs your help! We are dangerously low on a number of items. Without these, we may have to limit the amount of food boxes given out to those in need. Please consider donating canned soups, canned peas, yams, greens, carrots & mixed vegetables, boxed cereal, canned fruit and smaller sized jars of peanut butter & jelly.
Donations may be dropped off weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 3 p.m., and possibly at other times if you call and let us know – (252) 492-8231. ACTS is located at 305 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.
Your help would be appreciated a great deal!
Young Men to Hear From Experts on Goal Setting, Empowerment at ‘I Rise Summit’
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
Reach One Teach One, Inc. will host an “I Rise Summit” for young men ages 13 and over on Sunday, November 25, 2018, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson. Dinner will be served.
Young men attending this free event will hear from subject-matter experts on goal setting, overcoming life obstacles and what empowerment means in 2018.
For more information, please contact Anthony Garnes at (919) 398-5219 or email reachoneteachone252@gmail.com.
2018 Eastern District Election Officer Appointed
-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Robin Pendergraft, Chief of the Criminal Division will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general elections. AUSA Pendergraft has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of any complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said United Staes Attorney Higdon. “The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise may exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt the voting process are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Higdon stated that AUSA/DEO Pendergraft will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 919-856-4530.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Raleigh FBI field office can be reached by the public at 919-380-4500.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
United States Attorney Higdon said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter @USAO_EDNC.
Granville Athletic Park’s Outdoor Classroom Ready for Public Use
-Press Release, County of Granville
Volunteers and local businesses have combined resources and efforts to complete an “outdoor classroom” space at Granville Athletic Park (GAP). The project was constructed through a partnership between Granville County, the Granville County United Way and the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford (MHCO).
“The United Way was proud to be a part of this project,” said United Way Executive Director Brenda Dickerson-Daniel. “We have been working in partnership with Granville County for the past several years in providing volunteers and funding for several projects at Granville Athletic Park, this being one of them. We have a great leadership team and some very dedicated community partners that helped make this possible.”
The space is intended for public use for outdoor presentations and programs and includes bench seating and a presentation board (secured) in a pavilion-type setting. Engineered drawings were donated by Drye-McGlamery while labor, materials and financial support were provided by Altec, Vulcan, Bridgestone-Bandag and Green Acres Lawn and Landscaping, as well as Tommy Keith and Sullins Engineering.
Spearheading this project for Granville County United Way was the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, who took the lead in construction, coordinated volunteer labor efforts and organized the delivery of materials. Vocational Counselor Gene Purvis supervised the project, on behalf of MHCO.
“The Masonic Home for Children is proud to have coordinated the planning and construction of the Outdoor Classroom Project at the GAP,” Purvis remarked. “Our staff, with the assistance of other volunteers, was able to build something that we hope will provide an excellent venue for learning and discovery at the Park.”
Reservations are now being accepted for use of the outdoor classroom space. Those who would like to reserve this new addition to Granville Athletic Park should contact Raymond Allen, the GAP’s Parks and Grounds Director, at 919-693-3716.
“Gene Purvis and the volunteers from the Masonic Home and other partners in the community have constructed a beautiful addition to the GAP,” said Charla Duncan, Partnership Project Manager for Granville County Government. “We hope this project will serve as a reminder that outdoor recreation happens in many ways and that we can all come together to learn and create in a natural environment.”
