Vance GOP

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Featured Speaker At Upcoming Vance GOP Fundraiser

/by

If you haven’t already purchased a ticket for the June 24 Vance County Republican Party fundraiser, there’s still time, but Vance GOP Chairman Jimmy Barrier says you need to get a move on – they’re selling fast.

So fast, in fact, that the local organization had to get an additional 100 tickets printed after the initial round sold out.

Special guest speaker is Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Barrier said, with a time to meet local candidates in the November 2022 general election. Gates open at 5 p.m., according to information from Barrier.

The event will be held at 284 U.S. Hwy 158 bypass in Henderson, across from Charles Boyd Chevrolet.

Tickets are $25 each for a plate of chicken, barbecue, slaw, hushpuppies and your choice of tea or water.

Tickets may be purchased at the following locations:

  • Law office of Lori Renn, 409 Young St., Henderson – 252.438.8082
  • Cross Creek Outdoor Supply, 537 Cross Creek Rd., Henderson – 252.492.9770

TownTalk: LGBTQ Event Scheduled For Henderson

/by

The inaugural “LoveFest” is set for downtown Henderson Saturday afternoon as the community comes together to celebrate and observe Pride Month.

Melissa Elliott, founder of Gang Free, Inc. and Michael Venable are working to organize the event, which will take place June 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 205 Breckenridge St. They spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.

Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed June as LGBTQ Pride Month, and Elliott and Venable said there will be food, fun and festivities for the community as part of Love Fest. Local DJ Corey Hanks will provide musical entertainment.

Elliott said Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington will be present and will read a local proclamation as well.

“We talk about equality,” Venable said, “but if we want to move forward, we need to include everyone.”

There will be plenty of vendors out for the event, but Elliott said there’s always room for more. Contact her at melissaelliott@gangfreeinc.org or 252.598.0067  to learn more about participating as a vendor or organization.

Elliott said the event is being planned as a “nonjudgmental zone” where the community can lay aside misunderstanding and miscommunication to promote inclusion and diversity among all people.

“It’s about people who just want to be treated equal and treated fair,” Venable said.

Event sponsors include Henderson Police Department, the City of Henderson, Food Lion, print company Kolor Kode, Vance-Granville Community College, Miguel’s Beauty Salon, Henderson-Vance Parks & Recreation Dept., Downtown Development, the NAACP, Gang Free, Inc. and Graceful Buttah, a company that sells body scrubs, lotions and butters.

Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, have a family member who is or you just want to learn more, this event is a chance to come out and show support.
“I feel like there’s not enough here for the LGBTQ community,” Venable said. “They judge the book by the cover – they don’t read the book,” he said.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

NCDOT

S-Line Rail Project Gathering Steam As Progress Continues

/by

If you want to learn more about the plans for the S-Line railroad and proposed stop in Henderson, or if you’d like to share your ideas about the project, please plan to come to a design workshop and open house on Tuesday, June 7 at McGregor Hall.

The workshop is open to the public any time between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the foyer of McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center at 201 Breckenridge St. and will focus on current plans for the S-Line in Henderson, according to Tracy Madigan, director of the Henderson-Vance County Downtown Development Commission. An open house will be held in the Farm Bureau Room of the Perry Memorial Library right next door from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The open house is a time for interested residents to provide input and ideas for developing a plan for the S-Line, a commuter rail line between Richmond, VA and Tampa,

About 95 miles of railway will run through the state, with proposed stops North Carolina’s S-Line project includes six other communities in addition to Henderson: Norlina, Franklinton, Youngsville, Wake Forest, Raleigh and Sanford.

A similar workshop and open house is scheduled for Thursday, June 16 at the Warrenton Armory Civic Center. The design workshop will be open between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.; the open house will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Transit-oriented development has a goal to connect communities and establish mobility hubs by increasing accessibility without having to rely on personal vehicles.  An important aspect to the study is community input.

More information about the S-Line Transit Oriented Development Study may be found online at https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/rail/s-line-study.

CLICK PLAY!

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Earthworms

/by

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

Click Play!

 

 

Fourth Suspect Arrested In Durham Following May 28 Shootout

/by

The fourth suspect was taken into custody Thursday in connection with an exchange of gunfire that occurred last weekend outside a West Andrews Avenue convenience store.

Detectives of the Henderson Police Department were in Durham Thursday when Durham police officers took Jaymon Gibson, 24, into custody, the last remaining adult suspect in the May 28 incident at Gate City Foods. One suspect, already in custody, is a juvenile.

Gibson faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, discharging a weapon into occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Police served a search warrant was served on the residence where he was taken into custody and recovered an AR-style pistol, according to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Gibson was remanded to the Vance County Detention Center without privilege of bond due to a parole violation and charges stemming from the May 28 shootout.

According to Barrow, Jordan Turnage, Charles Green and one juvenile all surrendered themselves to authorities earlier this week.

Turnage, 21, of Creedmoor, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into occupied property and discharging a firearm in the city limits. His secured bond was set at $65,000. Green, 23, also was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into occupied property and discharging a firearm in the city limits. His secured bond was set at $115,000, Barrow said.

A juvenile petition was filed against a 17-year-old in connection with the incident, who received a temporary secured custody order.

Anyone with information about the May 28 incident is asked to call 911, Henderson Vance Crime Stoppers at +1 (252) 492-1925, or contact us through the P3 app or Facebook Messenger.

Vance County Logo

Recount Upholds Alston’s Election To Commissioners’ District 3 Seat

/by

After a recount of votes in the Vance County Commissioners’ District 3 race Thursday morning, challenger Sean Alston’s election to the seat was confirmed. According to the Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Alston received 269 votes to incumbent Gordon Wilder’s 260 votes.

The recount took place at 9 a.m. today.

The original vote count from the May 17 primary showed Alston with 270 votes, but Vaughan told WIZS News Thursday the count was adjusted after it was discovered that one vote was removed from the count.

An individual came to vote during the early voting period on May 12 and completed a same-day registration.

“On May 13, 2022 the state board removed the voter and I sent him a certified letter telling him we had him as a felon and if he had completed his time to bring in the proper papers so his vote would count,” Vaughan said in an email update. The individual did not return, however, and the state board of elections officials instructed the Vance County elections officials to remove the vote, which resulted in the change in the final count.

Specialty Food Distribution Hub To Create 23 Jobs In Granville County

/by

A food distribution company that has its roots in France and New Jersey is coming to Granville County, creating more than 20 jobs in a warehouse and distribution facility that will help the company expand its reach into the Southeast.

D’Artagnan, Inc., a specialty food company distributor, will create 23 new jobs and invest more than $4 million to locate a warehouse and distribution facility in Granville County, according to a press release from County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. The operation will take up a portion of the former Burlington Mills facility on Lewis Street in Oxford.

“Our whole team is excited about developing our sales in this beautiful region!” said Ariane Daguin, CEO of D’Artagnan. “We have closely followed the food scene in the Carolinas and are very happy to be able to contribute to it,” Daguin added.

“We are extremely excited that D’Artagnan has selected Granville County to expand their company with this new distribution warehouse,” said Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills.

“We have created a hub for food distribution and processing in Granville County that is attracting the attention of companies around the world. D’Artagnan choosing Granville County shows how integral our location and workforce is in the global food supply chain. Mills thanked county commissioners, members of the economic development advisory board, the city of Oxford as well as local realtor Wills Hancock and the team at Century 21 Hancock Properties for their efforts in attracting D’Artagnan to the county.

Daguin founded D’Artagnan in 1985 and the French food pioneer has continued to lead her company which provides of high-quality meats, produce and delicacies to high-end hotels and restaurants in the United States.

The New Jersey-based  company distributes natural, sustainable food raised on farms and ranches across the world to offer organic products. D’Artagnan has three business segments that cover food service, retail and e-commerce to market its food products in all 50 states.

The new Oxford facility will be the largest distribution site outside of New Jersey and will support D’Artagnan’s expansion into the Southeast market.

Granville County Economic Development partnered with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and a host of partners locally and statewide in supporting D’Artagnan’s decision to expand to North Carolina, bringing the new jobs with it. Although wages will vary for each position, the average annual salary for the new positions is $46,170, – which exceeds Granville County’s overall average annual wage of $45,096. The new jobs have the potential to create an annual payroll impact of more than $1 million.

A performance-based grant of $50,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help with D’Artagnan’s location to North Carolina. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital

investment targets to qualify for payment. D’Artagnan must invest at least $3,695,300 to receive One NC grant payments. The grants require a 50 percent local match, subject to approval by the Granville County Board of Commissioners that would total $25,000.

“This is another great economic development win for Granville County,” said State Sen. Mike Woodard who represents District 22, which includes the entirety of Granville County. “We welcome these new jobs and $4 million investment to our community and are ready to support the company’s future success.”

“More and more companies are finding the business climate in our region ideal for their strategic growth plans,” said N.C. Rep. Terry E. Garrison who represents District 32, which includes northern Granville County and Oxford. “We appreciate the diligent local and state officials and economic development partners that helped bring this project to Oxford.”

Other partners include the Kerr-Tar Council of Government, Granville County Chamber  of Commerce, Granville County Public School System, Vance-Granville Community College, NCWorks Career Center of Oxford, the N.C. Dept. of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and the North Carolina General Assembly for their assistance in locating D’Artagnan in Granville County.

Vance County High School

Noel Named AD For VCHS, Trades Panthers For Vipers

/by

Vance County Schools has named Raymond Noel, a lifelong resident of the area, as the new athletic director for Vance County High School. Noel is a 2002 graduate of J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, where he played football and ran track and field.

He continued his education at Averett University, where he played football and

served as a student assistant for the school’s basketball program.

In 2007, Noel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a minor in coaching.

Noel’s career immediately took off following graduation as he became the assistant football and basketball coach at Granville Central High School. He also served as the Driver’s Education

Instructor.

In 2015, he took on the head coaching position for the women’s basketball team and, in 2017, became the athletic director, during which time he led athletic teams to multiple-season victories through innovative training strategies. Noel earned his Certified Athletic Administrators Certificate through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

VCHS Principal Rey Horner said he welcomes Noel to the school and the district. “We are excited that Mr. Noel will be joining our district. We know his experience and dedication to athletics will continue to help our Viper programs flourish.”

Noel and his wife, Michelle, live in Granville County with their son, Blake.

Noel will start work in VCS on July 1, 2022.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead athletics at Vance County High School,” Noel said in a written statement.
“Thanks to Mr. Horner and the administration for this opportunity. GO VIPERS!”