The Local Skinny! Henderson Empowerment Bridging Politics & Community

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Several months ago now, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department started offering a weekly series of empowerment for the community programs.  The offerings can be seen live on Facebook, or later after the interview has been completed in most cases.

On Mondays at 4 p.m., the Henderson-Vance Outreach Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Henderson-Vance-104608337596118) hosts virtual sessions for Henderson Empowerment.

Learn your basic rights and how to protect your civil liberties.

Jaleel Johnson, HVRPD youth services program coordinator, told WIZS in February, “We interview community partners,” and answer questions “that the community needs to know to make the community better.”

Knowing – and understanding – your civil rights is something that doesn’t always get taught in school, Johnson said. Although some of the topics are geared toward educating youth, Johnson said the participants range in age from 16 to 45.

For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at 252-430-0382 (cac@ci.henderson.nc.us).

Memorial Day Event To Honor Fallen Heroes In Service To Their Country

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The Memorial Day holiday is a welcome day off for many, shortening the week by a day for many workers and schoolchildren. On this Memorial Day, May 31, Kindred Hospice in Oxford is offering a way for area residents to honor those whose lives have been lost in service to their country.

The public is invited to submit applications to have names included on the “Walk of Remembrance” that will be open all day on May 31 at Hix Recreation Complex in Oxford. Remembrance signs with the names of those being remembered will be posted along the walking trail at the recreational complex, located at 313 E. Spring St., Oxford. The deadline to submit “Fallen Hero” applications is Friday, May 28, said Britany Wilson of Kindred Hospice.

The Fallen Hero stories are a way to honor and remember the sacrifice of fallen military, fire, EMS and law enforcement members, she said.

Wilson said the Walk of Remembrance is for any veteran who has died, not just those who died in active duty.

Applications are available at the Kindred Hospice office, located at 136 Roxboro Rd. The office is open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact Wilson at 919.609.3403 to learn more.

Completed applications may be delivered to the Kindred Hospice office, or submitted by email to Britany.wilson@kindredhospicecare.com or mail to:

Britany Wilson

Attn: Fallen Hero Story

P.O. Box 70

Oxford, NC 27565

VCS Administrator Receives Leadership Award From Superintendents’ Association, School Leadership Alliance

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A Vance County Schools official has received a prestigious award from the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD).

Dr. Letisha Judd-Manning, director of elementary education and professional development for Vance County Schools, is the winner of the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award for the Aspiring Superintendent Program Cohort V, according to a statement from the NCSSA. The annual award is presented to a graduate of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson called Judd-Manning “a strong and focused leader with a track record of success as a teacher, school principal and district leader. We are very proud of Dr. Judd-Manning and grateful for her leadership and dedication to Vance County Schools,” Jackson said.

Dr. Judd-Manning “exemplifies the traits that have guided Dr. Samuel Houston’s career in educational leadership, said Jack Hoke, NCSSA executive director. “She has a commitment to continuous improvement, high standards of ethical conduct, strategic planning, improving student performance and meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce,” Hoke said.

“It is an honor to receive the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award and to have participated in the Aspiring Superintendent Program,” Dr. Judd-Manning stated. “One of the greatest rewards was taking this powerful journey with this cohort of amazing N.C. educational leaders. The wisdom and expertise shared by our esteemed program leaders was extremely valuable and will have lasting influence,” she added.

Judd-Manning has been with VCS since 2017 and previously served in Durham Public Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, according to Aarika Sandlin, VCS public information officer.

career in education began 25 years ago as a teacher assistant. She went on to become a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Dr. Judd-Manning was graduated from N.C. Central University, earned a master’s degree in school administration at UNC-CH and holds a doctorate in education from High Point University.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina. Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships.

May 21 Plate Fundraiser Home Cooked Food

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Big Ruin Creek Missionary Baptist Church is having a fundraiser, and the resulting food options are going to be many.

There will be a plate sale on May 21 at 11 a.m.  It will take place at 421 Pearl Street, Henderson.

The menu will include baked chicken, fish and meatloaf for $8 each.  Chitterlings and barbecue will be $10 each.  If you would like a combination plate, no problem.  Combination plates will be $12 each.

Sides will consist of collard greens, turnip greens, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and cornbread.

As the notice asking WIZS to announce this said, “Come and get some good home cooked food.”

If you would like to contact anyone in advance, let it be Margaret Gregory at 767-1593.

GCPS Considers School Closings at May 17 Work Session

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The fate of a couple of school campuses may become clearer during a work session of the Granville County Board of Education next week.

The work session will be held Monday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education. The purpose of the meeting is to hear a first draft of staff presentations on studies regarding the reorganization of schools, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, assistant superintendent of operations & human resources and public information officer for GCPS. Members of the public are invited to view via livestream. Join at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The school board is considering several different options that include closing schools and consolidating campuses in the southern end of the county. Wilton Elementary and Creedmoor Elementary are being looked at for possible closure. Also being studied is closing Granville Central High School in Stem and repurposing the campus to house either South Granville High School or G.C. Hawley Middle School.

Seating at the work session is limited for those who attend, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building, and follow social distancing protocols.

Mary Potter Center of Education is located at 200 Taylor St., Oxford, NC.

GAP Phase III Complete; 11 More Acres For Tennis, Volleyball, Other Activities

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Granville Athletic Park’s Phase III is finished and now open to the public, adding tennis courts, open green space, sand volleyball pits and more to the GAP’s existing ball fields, walking trails and splash park.

“We are extremely excited about this expansion,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman. “As we are able to get outside more and enjoy the many recreational opportunities across the county, we invite our residents and visitors to come out enjoy the new tennis courts, playground equipment and other features, as well as all the other amenities already available at the GAP,” she said.

The newest section of the park uses 11 additional acres of land the county bought in 2013, bringing to 80 the total number of acres that comprise the park.

In addition to the tennis courts, green space and volleyball pits, there is an easily accessible and inclusive playground, a fitness station, a picnic shelter and designated areas for cornhole boards. There are plans to add nine holes of disc golf as well, according to a statement from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

The goal of this project is to encourage healthy activity and to provide a safe, appealing and functional outdoor environment for residents and visitors to the area, according to Allred.

Expected use of the tennis courts includes scheduled tournament play for athletic associations and tennis clubs, as well as access for practice and casual community enjoyment. Groups, teams and individuals can now reserve one of the six tennis courts and be put on the GAP’s calendar for specific dates and times. Call 919.693.5240 to learn more or to reserve a court.

Planners used results from a 2015 countywide recreation survey to choose how to outfit the addition. The creation and construction comes from grant funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF, $300,000), the National Parks Service Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF, $250,000), the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA, $50,000) and the U.S. Tennis Association’s USTA Southern ($20,000).

County leaders will have a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate the Phase III addition to the GAP is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with Granville County’s 275th anniversary celebration at the park’s sheltered sports pavilion area and amphitheater.

Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford. Visit www.granvillecounty.org to learn more.

 

Shots, Search, Arrests of Trevino and Velazquez

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Press Release — 

On the evening of May 11, 2021 officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a call for shots fired in the area of Gholson Ave. It was determined that the shots were coming from 248 Gholson Ave and two subjects were encountered during the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the residence after the on scene discovery of controlled substances. Seized during the search warrant were 340 grams of cocaine, 205.5 grams of marijuana, 13 amphetamine pills, 985 Xanax bars, 2 THC edibles, Promethazine Codeine syrup, three semi auto firearms, one 20 gauge shotgun, drug manufacturing equipment, firearm accessories, firearm ammunition, high capacity magazines, and $2,093 in US Currency.

29 year old, Gerardo Trevino of 248 Gholson Ave. was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Cocaine by Possession and Manufacture, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Manufacture a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Maintain a Dwelling to Keep Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Trevino received $158,000 secured bond.

29 year old, Jonathan Velazquez of Oxford, NC was arrested and charged with Trafficking Cocaine and Misdemeanor Possession Schedule IV Controlled Substance. He received a 31,000 secured bond.

If anyone has information about the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics or other ongoing criminal activity, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.