TownTalk: Career Day At LB Yancey School

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Students at L.B. Yancey Elementary in Henderson got a chance to interact – virtually – with a range of professionals during last week’s Career Day at the school. They also got the chance to share their career aspirations by dressing as doctors, nurses, civil servants and there was even one funeral director.

The theme for the day was “I Have a Voice – My Career, My Choice,” according to Alicia Eccleston-Clarke, event organizer. She said Career Day offered students the chance to see just how many career options await them. “Exposing them to the career opportunities available to them will hopefully serve as a way to motivate students to work hard and to do their best in school,” she said.

The staff and students were joined by a team of top-notch professionals who sparked much interest and excitement as they joined via Zoom to share details about their respective careers. The student were able to pose questions to their virtual guests. The day’s activities culminated with a student parade through the school hallways to show off their career day attire.

Fourth-grader Nathan Durham summed up Career Day this way: “It was so amazing! I wanted to be a soldier or cop or firefighter or anything! I couldn’t choose so I dressed as a funeral director.”

Guidance counselor Connie Jones and Cherie Dixon-Rose, multi-grade classroom leader at the school, were part of the organizing committee. Principal Dr. Shannon Bullock and the whole school staff worked together to make the Career Day a meaningful day for the students.

From the decorated bulletin board displays to the banner and décor, kids were excited from the moment they walked into the building. “I was overjoyed to see the level of participation from all stakeholders. Students being able to directly communicate with professionals in their desired careers will inspire them to continue working hard to achieve their goals,” Bullock said. Her comments were from a press release by VCS Director of Communication And Marketing Aarika Sandlin.

The following individuals participated in Career Day:

  • Estena Bradley – nurse Ppactitioner in the areas of Gynecology and Obstetrics from the Center for Women’s Health, Oxford;
  • Vernon Turner – on-air meteorologist for Spectrum News 1, Raleigh;
  • The Hon. Caroline S. Burnette – district court judge with the State of North Carolina;
  • Charles Gunby – chief executive officer of CG Project Management, Electrical, and Construction, LLC;
  • Michael Rice, P.E. teacher/track & basketball coach,Vance County Middle School,
  • Carlos Gunby – firefighter and paramedic EMT;
  • Camisha Gavin, realtor with CC & Co. Real Estate;
  • Jason Brown, former NFL player, author and current full-time farmer with First Fruits Farm.

 

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Granville Vance Public Health Logo

The Local Skinny! Voting On Public Health Assesement Ends March 31st

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Public health professionals have been on the front lines for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. From vaccine clinics to sharing information about community spread, it seemed like Granville Vance Public Health was always working to prevent new cases of the Delta variant, then the more pervasive Omicron.

More than likely, fighting a global pandemic was not one of the top three priorities listed on the most recent GVPH Community Health Assessment. And yet, it quickly became a priority and has remained so over the past couple of years.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison invites all adults who live in Granville or Vance counties to take a very brief survey as her agency finishes up another community health assessment – a year-long process to identify priorities on which to focus energy and funding. The survey ends Thursday, March 31.

The community health assessment team already has conducted surveys, held focus group sessions and analyzed data trends to generate a list of priority areas for the two counties.

“Please take a moment to look at the top list of priorities that have emerged in this process and vote on your own top ones,” Harrison said in her weekly email update. “We are eager to continue our work in communicable disease prevention and also, in developing programs, interventions, partnerships and services that address our top health priorities in Granville and Vance counties.”

Before you vote, you may want to watch a 12-minute video overview of the data: https://go.unc.edu/GVPriorities-DataSummary

Click here to vote: https://go.unc.edu/GVPriorities2022

GVPH has offices in Henderson, 115 Charles Rollins Rd. behind Maria Parham Health and in Oxford 1032 College St., near Granville Health System.

Visit www.gvph.org to learn more.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Organic Gardening

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Union Chapel UMC In Kittrell To Hold Fundraisers

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Easter is right around the corner and Union Chapel United Methodist Church in Kittrell is cooking Boston Butts and having a bake sale – just in time for your holiday lunch or dinner.

Contact Edward Woodlief, president of the Union Chapel Methodist Men’s group, at 252.767.4044 to place your order before Tuesday, April 12. Proceeds benefit the men’s group of the church.

The butts average between 8-10 pounds each and will be cooked and ready for pickup on Friday, April 15 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the church parking lot. The church is located at 6535 Raleigh Road (US Hwy 1 Business South) in Kittrell. Cost is $30.

The church’s “Women of Joy” group will sponsor a bake sale during the pickup times so stop by a pick up a favorite cake, pie. Call Alice Braswell at 252.492.0882 by April 12 to make a special request for a baked item. of Union Chapel United Methodist Church will also
Proceeds from the bake sale will benefit “Women of Joy.”

 

HPD Announce Arrest In Theft of Controlled Substance at MPH

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The Henderson Police Department issued a statement about an investigation and subsequent arrest in January 2022 concerning larceny of a controlled substance by an employee of Maria Parham Health.

According to information from HPD Capt. Chris Ball, Rebecca Neal, 40, of Norlina, was arrested on Jan. 17, 2022 and charged with two felony counts, one of larceny by employee and one for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud/forgery.

At the time, Neal was an employee at Maria Parham Health.

Neal was given a $75,000 unsecured bond and was released pending a court hearing in Vance County.

Three Face Charges In Connection With Toddler’s Death On Mar. 19

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Three people have been charged in connection with the death of a toddler last weekend, according to information received today (Friday) from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame said in a press release to WIZS News that two men and one woman were charged Thursday, Mar. 24 in connection with the accident involving a motor vehicle, which resulted in the death of an 18-month-old child.

Deputies responded to a call at 6:04 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 19 to 1320 Railroad St.

An 18-month-old was transported to Maria Parham Medical Center by Vance County EMS, where the child died as a result of injuries received in the accident.

The child’s name has not been released.

Arrested were:

  • Santos Benito Mendez Ramirez, 32, felony child neglect, child abuse, serious bodily injury and felony conceal, failure to report death of a child; secured bond – $60,000
  • Ingrid Rosario Chavez-Ramos, 23, felony child neglect, child abuse, serious bodily injury and felony conceal, failure to report death of a child; secured bond – $60,000
  • Adan Leandro Escobar Mendez, 26, failure to report an accident; secured bond – $1,500

VGCC’s 38th Annual Golf Tournament May 9-10; Register Now!

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Registration is underway for the 38th annual Vance-Granville Community College golf tournament. Golfers interested in signing up to play need to swing into action before the April 15 deadline.

The VGCC Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 9-10, at the Henderson Country Club.  Gupton Services, Inc. of Henderson will serve as the event’s presenting sponsor.

The tournament is a primary fundraiser for the VGCC Foundation, according to a press statement from VGCC’s Jerry Edmonds III, vice president of Workforce & Community Engagement.

All proceeds from the tournament are used to fund student scholarships and to support the mission of the college.

The golf tournament provides resources for VGCC’s efforts to remove barriers to education as it enhances and expands ways to address need-based aid for students and promote equitable outcomes for all learners, said Tanya Weary, executive director of the VGCC Foundation.

But the tournament also provides an opportunity for golfers and non-golfers alike to come together and demonstrate their support of VGCC and its impact on the broader community.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said she welcomes the opportunity to interact with all those who come out to play or watch. “We look forward to fellowshipping with our golf friends and thank you for your support of the VGCC mission,” Desmarais said.

The golf tournament will be held over two afternoons. Golfers who want to register in teams are asked to do so on the event’s website https://www.vgcc.edu/golf. Entry fee includes lunch, a golfer swag bag and a cookout at the end of each day.

There also are sponsorship opportunities available for businesses looking to promote their brand and support a worthy cause. Donations may be made via the event website or by emailing  foundation@vgcc.edu.

Presenting sponsor Gupton Services is a local HVAC, roofing and building automation systems company that traces its origins back to 1921, when C.P. Tanner established a sheet metal-working plant in Henderson.  Tanner Roofing became Owen Gupton Roofing and in 2019, Henderson native Greg Etheridge became its owner and president.

“As a local small business, we are happy to take a leadership role in the community and to support Vance-Granville Community College,” Etheridge said.  “If you look at the research, the benefits of postsecondary education and skills training to both the individual and our community are enormous.  The VGCC Foundation helps make education affordable and accessible to this region, and we must encourage that, in order to promote economic mobility and job security for our citizens.”

VGCC continues to be a source of economic growth because it provides an educated and skilled workforce that improves the quality of life for individual students and the community.  Careers in HVAC, electronics engineering, mechatronics, welding and auto mechanics are just a few areas in high demand.

Whether just entering the job market or making a career change, VGCC helps students along their career paths as they develop the skills needed to fill jobs in high-demand areas.

One Day, Two Warrants; Two Suspects Arrested by HPD on Drug Charges

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On March 23, 2022, Officers of the Henderson Police Department served a narcotics search warrant at 111 South Pinkston Street Apartment 42 Henderson in response to multiple drug complaints.

During the service of the warrant, heroin, marijuana, drug manufacturing equipment, U.S. Currency, and a semi-auto pistol were seized. 20-year-old Tyrik Pettaway was arrested in relation to this investigation.

Pettaway was charged with one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, Possession of a Firearm by Felon, one count of Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling Place for a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of Marijuana.

Pettaway received an $85,000 secured bond and was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

Additionally, on March 23, 2022, Officers of the Henderson Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at 145 East Parker Street.

During the service of the warrant, three semi-auto pistols, heroin, and U.S Currency were seized. 30-year-old, Neno King was arrested in relation to this investigation.

King was charged with one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, one count of Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling Place for a Controlled Substance, and three counts of Possession of a Firearm by Felon.

King received a $105,000.00 secured bond and was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

If anyone has information about any 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.

(Press Release courtesy of Henderson Police Department; Authority Chief Marcus Barrow)

Cooperative Extension with Paul Mckenize: What Works in the Garden

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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