Mako Medical

Mako Medical Offers To Match Donations To VCPSF Up To $10K

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Mako Medical Labs is matching contributions up to $10,000 made to the Vance County Public School Foundation, so now it’s up to interested individuals and other businesses and organizations to step up to help achieve this goal.

“We are excited to announce a strong business-education alliance between Mako Medical Labs and the Vance County Public School Foundation,” Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said in a recent statement to WIZS News. “Both are very active members of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce and we want to help promote this collaboration.”

A donation to the foundation now will have double the impact, Burgess noted.

Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church in Henderson, chairs the foundation, which has supported various initiatives in the local school system for more than 25 years. Those initiatives include teacher leadership training, teacher mini grants, student academic growth success, the Student Spotlight program, bringing the NC Symphony to Vance County to speak and perform for elementary students, awarding National Certified teachers, and the Arts Alive event.

 

Mail checks, payable to VCPSF, to:

PO Box 2956, Henderson, NC 27536

Online donations also can be made with a credit card at  www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Contact Aarika Sandlin, VCS director of communication and marketing at asandlin@vcs.k12.nc.us or call 252.492.2127.

 

Fourth Suspect Charged in Connection to Devontae Cheek Murder

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— Vance County Sheriff’s Office Press Release Information —

On or about the 15th day of July, 2022, Hakeem Dortch voluntarily surrendered himself to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Dortch was served with three indictments — first degree murder, accessory after the fact to murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Hakeem Dortch is being held at the Vance County Detention Facility under a $1,000,000.00 bond.

These indictments are related to the October 30th, 2021 shooting and murder of Devontae Cheek of Williamsboro.

Cheek was shot and killed as he was exiting a motor vehicle in the parking lot area of the Williamsboro Shell Station.

Four suspects have been charged in connection to this incident.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate this matter. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

SportsTalk: Hoyle Leaves Duke For Mississippi St.

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Wil Hoyle, son of Henderson’s Wilson Hoyle, has been a key player for Duke University’s baseball team but will be heading to Mississippi St. for his final year of college eligibility next season.  Hoyle entered the transfer portal. His change of schools is all about new challenges and, as Hoyle puts it, “experiencing something new at Mississippi State.”

Hoyle had nothing but wonderful things to say about his time with the Blue Devils lavishing praise on the staff, coaches and the relationships that he has formed at Duke. He also didn’t neglect his studies while there either garnering two degrees including a Masters in Management Studies.

On the field, Hoyle had 17 RBI and 4 home runs with a batting average of .207 and a .333 on base average for the 2022 season.  “I wasn’t ready to be a batter,” Hoyle said of starting at Duke a few years back. He was a diligent defensive player but putting on weight and getting stronger has helped him on the offensive side, and Hoyle excels at switch hitting which adds value to his team.

Hoyle received extra eligibility because of covid and its effects on sports scheduling during 2020. When the baseball season was shut down that year, Hoyle said there were heavy emotions in the locker room.  He had just had a break out game just prior to the shutdown, and Duke was ranked 8th in the country at the time. Duke and Hoyle survived covid and won the ACC Championship last season. “That’s something I will never forget,” Hoyle said.

Now, with one year left in his college career, Hoyle says he will play whatever role that is needed at Mississippi State.  While Duke is a major college power in basketball, Mississippi State is that type of school in baseball. Duke’s baseball stadium seats only 2,000 people but at Mississippi State he will play in front of 15,000 fans.  It’s a big step for the Durham native, but he is looking forward to family coming from Henderson and Durham to see him play at Mississippi State just as they have come to games at Duke.

For more on Hoyle at Mississippi St. baseball, visit a wonderful SI article we also turned up. https://www.si.com/college/mississippistate/baseball/mississippi-state-baseball-transfer-commitment-wil-hoyle-duke-blue-devils

AND CLICK PLAY FOR OUR WIZS INTERVIEW WITH WIL!

Two Arrested On Weapons, Drugs Charges

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Henderson police arrested one man Tuesday who had outstanding warrants in connection with previous offenses and added several weapons and drug charges to the list upon placing him in custody.

Detectives of the Henderson Police Department observed Orlando Khayil Gibbs, 25, in a vehicle at a store located at 601 West Andrews Ave. and “were able to quickly confirm that Gibbs had active warrants for previous committed offenses,” according to a press statement from Chief Marcus Barrow.

There were several other people in the vehicle and police found marijuana and two semi-automatic firearms inside after the occupants were outside the car.While taking Gibbs into custody, Detectives observed marijuana in plain view inside of the vehicle Gibbs was occupying.

As a result, Gibbs was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana up to a half ounce.

Gibbs was issued a pre-set $10,000 secured bond and a $360 cash bond for his outstanding order for arrest.

Magistrate Stewart set an an additional $5,000 secured bond for the other charges. He was released upon posting bond.

One of the occupants in the vehicle, Jeremiah Edwards, 18, was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $1,000 secured bond and was remanded to Vance County Jail.

Terry Garrison

Rep. Garrison Notes Funding For Local Projects In New State Budget

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The newly approved $27.9 billion budget that Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law this week includes funding for several local projects, according to a press statement from Rep. Terry Garrison, who represents District 32 that comprises Vance, Warren and Granville counties.

  • The City of Henderson will receive $5 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects;
  • Vance County will receive $500,000 for local government projects;
  • Warren County will receive a $6 million grant from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund.

“I am glad to see this level of funding returning to the district,” Garrison said in the statement. “Water and sewer infrastructure is essential and this money will be well spent by Henderson. I am also excited that Warren County will receive a grant from the Department of Public Instruction to improve our public schools. Investments in education are one of the most important priorities I have.”

TownTalk: Place Names In Franklin And Warren Counties

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Did you ever wonder how some towns, communities or crossroads get their names? For the very curious, there’s always an online search to ferret out tidbits of useful information. Folks in this area, however, have Mark Pace and Bill Harris!

The two local history buffs talked Thursday about how some communities in Franklin and Warren counties came by their unique names like Pokomoke, Alert (say it AY-lert), Wise and Axtell.

Of course, many names are derived from prominent families in the area at the time, like Bunn, Wood and Youngsville.

But naming a town for a prominent athlete who lived near the turn of the 19th century?

The athlete, as it turns out, was a young stallion who shattered the record for 3-year-old trotters back in 1889. His name was Axtell, and there’s a little community in Warren County that bears his name. After he completed the 1-mile race in a blazing 2:12 time, Axtell was sold to a consortium for the “most outrageously expensive price for a horse” at the time – $105,000, Pace said.

There was a period when it was in vogue to give towns names that had a positive spin, and Axtell could have been an example. Wise, Pacific (now Youngsville) and Alert are other examples, he added.

Louisburg, the county seat of Franklin County, was named for the King of France, Louis XVI. If you remember your Revolutionary War history, France was an ally of the Colonies in its fight for independence from British rule.

Warren County is named for Joseph Warren, a physician and Patriot during the early days of the American Revolution. He was killed during the Battle of Bunker Hill. His brutal death at the hands of British soldiers “really fired up the Patriot cause,” Pace said, and, consequently, naming the county in North Carolina serves as a homage. No doubt, had Warren lived, he would have gone on to be one of the great Patriots, alongside the likes of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Pace said.

It’s probably safe to say that there’s not another place on Earth called Norlina, Pace said. This town at the Vance/Warren border had been a water and coal stop for the Raleigh & Gaston railroad. Norlina was where that rail line came together with Seaboard and “a community quickly developed there,” Pace observed. In 1913, the town of Norlina was incorporated.

But what about the origin of Embro and Bambro?

As for Embro, Pace said he’d done some research on the subject. The Mitchell family, he said, came from Scotland  – Edinburgh, to be precise – and settled in the general area. If you put a Southern twist on the Scottish town, he said, you might just come up with Embro.

And Ridgeway? Pace said that was where the railroad track was laid for the Raleigh & Gaston line – “it was laid along the ridge way,” he said.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

VCS Cheerleaders Almost Halfway To Goal Of Marching In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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The Vance Charter Cheerleading team is almost halfway to its goal of raising the roughly $70,000 needed to be able to make the trip to New York City to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Head Coach Stacey Long said Thursday that the group has raised about $30,000, which is a great start. There’s a Sept. 1 deadline, though, so any and all donations to the fundraiser effort are welcomed at this time.

The group got the invitation in early May, and Long said to her knowledge, they’re the only cheerleading group in the area ever selected to march in the parade, known for its giant balloons, festive floats and marching bands. The girls will march along the 2.5 mile parade route, then stop and perform at Herald Square in front of Macy’s flagship store.

Over the past few weeks, the cheerleaders have fanned out across Henderson and Oxford, visiting businesses and delivering informational flyers in hopes of drumming up additional donations.

Long said the trip will cost about $3,000 per student, and the fundraiser will cover their costs, but not those of the 11 chaperones that will accompany them.

“We go up five nights before the performance,” Long said, adding that there’s a rigorous schedule that includes sightseeing and maybe even a Thanksgiving meal, all part of the “experience.”

“The girls are pretty excited,” she said. “They are sacrificing not having the holiday with their immediate family,” but an invitation to appear in the parade may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Long said she and assistant coach Shelley Whitehead have worked diligently alongside the cheerleaders to bring the fundraiser to the community’s attention.

If you can help, phone Long at 919.691.3279 or send a message via the Vance Charter Cheer Leading Facebook page.

There are various donation levels, beginning with $2,500 Platinum, $1,500 Gold, $1,000 Silver and $500 Bronze, but donations in any amount will be gratefully accepted.

The best way to make a financial donation is to send a check to the school:

Vance Charter School

Attn: Coach Stacey Long

2090 Ross Mill Rd.

Henderson, NC 27537

TownTalk: Bobby Wilkerson Remembered

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In a world where so much emphasis is placed on outward beauty, there was something a little quirky about Bobby Wilkerson’s long-running campaign. But there were plenty of folks clamoring to be a member of Wilkerson’s group – The “Ugly” League.

Wilkerson died last week at the age of 89. His nephew, Danny Wilkerson, spoke with John C. Rose on TownTalk Wednesday and shared some memories of his Uncle Bobby.

As the self-proclaimed “Mr. Ugly,” Wilkerson went around town handing out membership cards, an act that won him attention and more than a little acclaim.

“He would always talk about the men being ugly,” Danny recalled, chuckling. “He had cards printed up…people would just laugh and joke about it, saying ‘yeah, I got my Ugly card.’”

The membership ranks swelled, but Danny said he didn’t think his uncle ever offended anyone by granting them membership into The Ugly League. “He’d say, ‘if I didn’t like you and love you, I wouldn’t give it to you,’” Danny said.

If you got right down to it, his Uncle Bobby was a “people person and he believed in making people happy,” Danny said.

Throughout his working life, Bobby interacted with many people in the community – he was a dispatcher before the 911 system was established and he also worked at the Henderson Fire Department. Danny said there was a time when he, his Uncle Bobby and Danny’s dad Ranger all worked together at the fire department.

In what Danny called semi-retirement, his Uncle Bobby continued his public service as a magistrate, which Danny said he enjoyed a great deal.

All those years, however, Bobby maintained what today would be known as a “side hustle” – he had a business maintaining fire extinguishers. He would travel around town in vehicle of choice – a red International Scout, laden with fire extinguishers and all the tools of the trade.

Danny remembers helping his uncle when he was still in elementary school. “He made me work hard. I value that time with him – he taught me a lot about life,” Danny recalled.

The last Scout Wilkerson had, Danny said, met its demise on the train tracks beside Falkner Coal Yard just off Garnett Street. Seems the Scout had stalled on the tracks, and a train hit it.

No matter how folks knew him – as a magistrate, owner of a fire extinguisher business, founder of the Ugly League, there’s little doubt that he was well-loved.

“He was a gift from God to us all,” his nephew said.

CLICK PLAY!

GEF’s 7th annual Pig ‘n A Raffle Fundraiser Aug. 8

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-Information courtesy of Granville Education Foundation

 

In partnership with event sponsors, the Granville Education Foundation is hosting the 7th Annual Pig ‘n a Raffle Dinner and Raffle fundraiser on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, at Tobacco Wood Brewing Company in downtown Oxford.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and include a catered meal by Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, 2 beverage  tickets (a cash bar will be available), and entry into a raffle with the chance to win more than 40 items, each valued at least  $100. Tickets can be purchased from any GEF board member.

“We are looking forward to another exciting raffle event this year. There are a lot of great items – cash prizes and gift cards, Adirondack chair and table (given by Guy Breedlove), a week stay in Clarksville valued at $2,400 (given by Buck & Scotti Moore), beauty baskets, weekend getaways, and items for backyard fun – just to name  a few. Check out our Facebook page for a full list of items. This list will be continuously updated until the event” said GEF Executive Director Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter. “As a unique feature of Pig ‘n a Raffle- if you are unable to attend, you can still support the event by purchasing raffle tickets – you do not have to be present to win.  There is also the option of purchasing additional raffle tickets for $50 each, to increase your chances of winning,”  according to GEF President Dr. Linda Frederickson.

“This event is a great way to gather with others from the community, enjoy a great meal, and have the added benefit of possibly winning some really great items. It’s a casual, fun way to spend a Monday evening,” said GEF Vice President, the Hon. Caroline Burnette.

Special thanks to our 2022 Event Sponsors: Whitco Termite & Pest Control, The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford and Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.

For more information on how to support, please contact the Granville Education Foundation at 919.693.7047 or  GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com.

The Granville Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing student performance. Funds raised through the Granville Education Foundation are used to provide resources and enrichment programs for the students of Granville County Schools. Visit www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org to learn more.