Per Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer for Vance County Schools:
Right now, Vance County Schools has one-and-a-half months of funding reserves to support our School Nutrition Program if there is no funding available through the USDA.
At least 75 to 80 percent of our students throughout the Vance County school district eat lunch each day. The number can fluctuate, because some students bring their lunch some days and students are absent, etc. For our breakfasts, approximately 60 percent of students district-wide eat each day. Again, this number can fluctuate some from day to day.
We can promise our community that we will do what is necessary to provide breakfast and lunch each day in school to all students. We’re continually assessing our situation to stay on top of the funding limitations during the shutdown. We know we are okay with food reserves and available funding through March. Beyond that, no one, including other counties, knows what might happen. We’re in uncharted territory with this shutdown. No previous shutdown has ever lasted this long.
Currently, we have no issues with breakfast or lunch for students in our schools. Things are progressing smoothly. The only change being made starting Tuesday, January 22, 2019, is that students won’t have a choice of two entrees (meats) for their lunches. There will be no ice cream as this is considered an extra menu item.
Please understand the steps we are taking are precautionary to ensure we stretch our food supplies and funding as much as possible.
– Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer
Vance County Schools
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0131_VCS-Proud-Logo-050316.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:55:142019-01-18 16:55:14Vance Co. Schools: ‘We Promise to Do What is Necessary’ to Provide Lunch/Breakfast
-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson
CITY OF HENDERSON – TRAFFIC FLOW CHANGES
On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, Young Street will become a ONE-WAY street. Traffic will flow from Garnett Street to Chestnut Street. DO NOT enter Young Street from Chestnut Street.
Court Street will continue to be a ONE-WAY Street but the traffic flow will be reversed. Traffic will now flow from Young Street to Montgomery Street.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Young-Street-Henderson.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:54:492019-01-18 16:54:49Young St. in Henderson to Become One-Way; Court St. Traffic Flow to Reverse
-Press Release, NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant applications for the 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Applicants have until 5 p.m. on March 1, 2019, to apply.
“Specialty crops make up a significant portion of the state’s $87 billion agriculture industry and we would like to see this area of production grow,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Grant requests of up to $200,000 can be made through this program.”
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops including floriculture.
Grants are not available for projects that directly benefit or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. Applications must include biographical sketches on each person responsible for developing and implementing the project. In addition, applications must include at least one letter of support for the proposed project.
Applications are open to state and local governments, academic institutions, nonprofit associations, producer associations, community-based organizations and other specialty crop stakeholders. Interested parties can apply as single entities or in combined efforts.
For grant guidelines and an application, go to www.ncagr.gov/markets/scgrant. For questions, contact Sarah Pearce at 919-707-3158 or by email at sarah.pearce@ncagr.gov.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0088_NC-Department-of-Agriculture-and-Consumer-Services-Logo.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:53:522019-01-18 16:53:52Applications Now Being Accepted for 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The N.C. Pre-Kindergarten Site Selection process is now open.
N.C. Pre-Kindergarten Site Selection applications are due on April 11, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. from local child care centers, preschools and day care centers.
The applications should be sent to the Vance County Schools, Federal Programs Office at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson. The mailing address is P.O. Box 7001, Henderson, N.C. 27536.
The contact person with Vance County Schools is Claudette Scales, pre-kindergarten coordinator. She may be reached by phone at 252-492-2127 and by e-mail at cscales@vcs.k12.nc.us.
Site selection approval does not guarantee selection as an N.C. pre-kindergarten site.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0131_VCS-Proud-Logo-050316.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:53:212019-01-18 16:53:21Vance Co. Schools Announces Pre-Kindergarten Site Selection Process Now Open
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
Come enjoy friendly and educational fun as the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department hosts the 5th Annual African-American Quiz Bowl from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
The competition is open to 6th – 12th graders and will be held at the City Council Chambers located at 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson.
Questions will be based on African-American history in America, in North Carolina and locally in Henderson and Vance County.
Teams will consist of 3-4 participants. Registration deadline is Friday, February 15, 2019; a study guide is provided.
For more information, or to register, please contact Shantel Hargrove at shhargrove@ci.henderson.nc.us or 252-430-0382 or Gregory Kelly at gkelly@ci.henderson.nc.us or 252-431-6099.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/5th-Annual-African-American-Quiz-Bowl.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:52:552019-01-18 16:52:55Local Youth Encouraged to Register for 5th Annual African-American Quiz Bowl
-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County
The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.
Agenda items include:
Consent Agenda
1. Contingency Summary
2. Minutes
Recognitions and Presentations
3. Presentation – Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
8. Granville County Library System Board of Trustees
9. Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
10. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
County Manager’s Report
11. County Manager’s Report
County Attorney’s Report
12. County Attorney’s Report
Presentations by County Board Members
13. Presentations by County Board Members
Any Other Matters
14. Any Other Matters
Closed Session
15. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) – Economic Development
*Please note that County of Granville offices will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2019, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0062_granvillecountyseal.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-18 16:52:202019-01-18 16:52:20Granville Co. Board to Hear Presentations, Make Appointments at Jan 22 Meeting
Brame’s first order of business was assessing the current staffing structure and making a plan to strengthen areas of potential weakness. “I’m learning a lot,” he said. “Right now I’m doing an assessment. We have a good administrative staff and several have been promoted to a higher rank.”
Staying true to his campaign platform, Brame said he is also focusing on tackling the local drug problem and building rapport among the community.
“Right now, I’m working on reorganizing the division to get more deputies out on the street, and making sure we are more proactive in all areas,” Brame said.
Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame discusses his first few weeks in office with WIZS News. (WIZS Photo)
Brame is pleased with one recent victory that saw the Narcotics Unit arrest suspects involved in a “drug house” on Yancey Lane in Henderson. That case will be tried in federal court, according to Brame.
The process of helping to bust drug operations is helped along tremendously by information from the community, Brame said. “The rapport building that I talked about during my campaign has really paid off. People are sharing information on potential drug houses and activities.”
While Brame would like to expand the Narcotics Unit, he said the Sheriff’s Office as a whole is understaffed by at least nine people and has been understaffed for quite some time.
“I am addressing this issue with Vance County Commissioners for discussion when they plan the budget. They know we need the additional manpower; we can’t sufficiently provide adequate services to our citizens with the current manpower.”
Brame admitted recruiting officers to the area is harder than ever in a time when interest in a law enforcement career is down country-wide and surrounding counties are offering bigger paychecks.
“We have a retention problem,” Brame said. “Many see us as a training ground and then they go to work for surrounding counties that pay more. First responders and EMS have this same issue.”
“We spend a lot of money on training, they get here, we pay to train them and then they leave after 18 months or so. Then we have to start the whole process all over again.”
Brame admits he doesn’t have a quick-fix for long-standing recruitment issues, “Do I have all of the answers? No, I don’t, but we have to find a way to retain good officers and get them to stay right here in Vance County.”
In addition to focusing on the drug problem and retention issues, Brame said engaging in trust building activities and improving communication with the community is on his daily to-do list.
Up and out the door by 6:30 a.m. most mornings, Brame said he visits local restaurants, businesses and schools to talk with the citizens of Vance County and encourage them to share their concerns.
“We do not have enough eyes and ears [in the Sheriff’s Office] to combat the situation going on with crime and drugs. Get involved and share information. Reclaim your neighborhood and community,” Brame urged.
Brame said his phone number is open to the public and stated it on-air as (919) 691-6748.
“We are a public office and have an open-door policy. If you have an issue with the Sheriff’s Office, don’t just talk about me; come and see me or give me a call so we can address your situation.”
*To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Vance-County-Sheriff-Curtis-Brame.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-01-17 16:59:062019-01-17 16:59:06Major Drug Bust, Rapport Building Define Brame’s First Weeks in Office
