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VGCC’s Nursing Program Head Elected To State Nursing Board

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-information courtesy of Courtney Cissel, VGCC Public Information Officer

Dr. Anna Seaman, program head and nursing instructor at Vance-Granville Community College has been elected to the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Seaman, who was sworn in on Feb. 21, is a career nurse with decades of experience, according to a press statement from VGCC’s Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, one of the highest degrees a nurse can achieve. In her new role with the state board, she brings her unique perspective as an ADN/diploma nurse educator.

“As North Carolina continues to face a dire nursing shortage, it will be my mission to protect the public, support nurses in the state, and focus on nursing education as N.C. programs experience a dire shortage of qualified nursing educational professionals,” Seaman stated. “I am very interested in creative strategies to assist with this nursing shortage.”

Seaman is a graduate of the ADN program at VGCC and in 2004 took the position of lead instructor and course coordinator for the program, actively working with students to improve retention and NCLEX exam scores. After more than a decade in that role, she became VGCC’s program head in fall 2016. Her new position with NCBON gives her the opportunity to serve nursing students and professionals across the state.

“My experience in nursing and nursing education will greatly assist me in serving N.C.’s public as it relates to safe and effective nursing practice, as well as being an advocate for N.C. nurses and nurse educators throughout the state,” she said.

Each spring, qualifying licensed nurses are nominated by their peers to serve on NCBON.  After nominees have been validated and approved, NCBON conducts a statewide election in the summer so that licensed nurses may select the board members that influence their daily nursing practice. Once elected, new board members begin their four-year term of service the following January.

TownTalk: Versatrim To Hold Job Fair Saturday

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Versatrim, a manufacturer of various moldings for residential installation, is sponsoring a job fair this Saturday, Mar. 25 at their facility on Eastern Minerals Road, located just off U.S. 1, south of Henderson.

The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to company representatives who spoke Monday with John C. Rose on TownTalk. There will be onsite tours of the warehouse and customer service areas, which help prospective employees get a feel for the manufacturing facility, Brandi Parker, interim human resources manager, said.

Although Versatrim participates in job fairs sponsored by other groups like NC Works, Saturday’s onsite job fair is a first, Parker said.

People will “have the opportunity to come and see what Versatrim does,” agreed Viridiana Badillo, human resources assistant.

All of the 12 positions that Versatrim currently has available are full-time positions – that means a 40-hour workweek, with full benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance.

In addition, Versatrim offers a couple of extras at no cost to the employee – $25,000 life insurance, and teledoc services that include urgent care and mental health services.

Parker said she’s proud of the employee development opportunities that the company has initiated; various community entities have come out to share information about such things as nutrition, fitness, homebuying and the importance of getting a GED.

“This is more than just where you come to work,” Parker said. Versatrim’s “team” concept provides support for employees, she said. They fully expect to double or triple their growth over the next few years, Parker added.

There are two shifts at the facility, and when all the lines are running, they can produce 10,000 pieces of molding each day.

Most of the open positions are for first-shift, which uses more workers than the second shift. The shifts can range from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., depending on the station.

Versatrim prioritizes quality, Badillo said. There are quality control checks throughout the manufacturing process, even “once it’s wrapped and ready to go out the door,” she said. “We take quality very serious here.”

Call 888.292.1146 to learn more or visit https://versatrim.com/ to learn more about employment opportunities and the Versatrim products.

 

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Maria Parham Health Hosts Lunch And Learn To Discuss Cancer Prevention, Early Detection

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Join a team of health professionals later this month for an educational “lunch and learn” to boost awareness about colorectal cancer.

Maria Parham Health will host the freeevent at the Henderson Campus on Tuesday, Mar. 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

According to The American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, excluding skin cancers. The cancer society estimates that in 2023, there will be 106,970 new cases of colon cancer, and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer.

A panel of Maria Parham health care providers will discuss the importance of early detection. The panelists include:

  • Ashley Traversa, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, RN, a Duke Cancer Network nurse practitioner specializing in neuro-oncology;
  • Colleen Truax, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, a family nurse practitioner specializing in gastrointestinal disorders;
  • Crystal Kaplan, MSN, RN, AGACNP is a Duke Cancer Network nurse practitioner specializing in hematology/oncology.

Attendees will learn about colorectal cancer prevention, detection, screening, treatment and more at this informational seminar, and lunch will be provided. Due to space restrictions, registrations will be limited to the first 30 attendees who register.

Register online at https://www.mariaparham.com/ or call 252.436.1605.

Chamber, Rotary Join Forces To Present “State Of The Schools” 2023

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The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Henderson Rotary Club, invites you to attend “The State of Vance County Public Schools Address and Luncheon” on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 12 noon.  Dr. Cindy Bennett, VCS Superintendent, will be the keynote speaker bringing you updates, goals and accomplishments of the public school system.

“We would like to thank the Henderson Rotary Club for being the sponsor for all three of these events,” Wilkerson said. “We are happy they recognize the need to keep our businesses and citizens informed.”

This address is the 3rd local address planned by the Chamber’s Governmental and Public Affairs Committee.  Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson said it’s important to make reservations early – the two session held in 2022 sold out, she said. Call or email the Chamber to reserve your seat. Tickets are $30; or reserve a table of 8 for $240.

The event will be held at Henderson Country Club.

RSVP by calling the Chamber at 252.438.8414 or email Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Clothes Moths

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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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Sheriff Announces Arrest In Repeated Break-Ins At Local Business

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A Henderson man has been charged in connection with four different break-ins at a local business.

Oscar Delcid, 20, faces a laundry list of charges in connection with break-ins that occurred between Dec. 30, 2022 and Jan. 12, 2023 at Pernell’s Custom Framing on US 158 Bypass, according to a press statement from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Delcid went before a magistrate and was placed under a $150,000 secured bond. He has a court date of April 6.

Charges include four counts each of breaking and entering and injury to personal property, as well as single counts of larceny of a firearm, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools, according to Brame.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200.

Vance County Man Arrested On Numerous Drug Charges

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A local man was arrested Thursday on numerous drug charges, according to information from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

In a press statement Friday from Sheriff Curtis Brame, sheriff’s officers, with assistance from the Wake Forest Police Department, executed a search warrant at the home of Maurice Thomas on Mar. 16.

The warrant was served at 531 Swain Drive, Henderson.  The home was occupied by three individuals at the time the warrant was served, Brame stated. Recovered in the search was approximately 116 grams of cocaine, along with marijuana and a firearm.

 

Thomas was taken into custody and charged with the following:

 

Traffic cocaine

Possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine

Felony possession of cocaine

Possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana

Felony possession of marijuana

Felony maintaining a dwelling/vehicle

Possession of a firearm by a felon

 

Thomas appeared before a magistrate, at which time a secured bond of $179,000 was set.

Norlina Grocery Store With Local Ties To Open Mar. 25

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A new grocery store is set to open soon in Norlina, and its owners say shoppers will be able to fill their baskets with locally grown produce as well as other food staples.

Warren County residents Demetrius Hunter and LaTonya Andrews-Hunter invite the community to the soft opening of Peanut and Zelb’s, located at  137 Hyco St. in downtown Norlina on Saturday, Mar. 25 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Inspired by their community involvement and food aggregation experience, and with the success of their first store, the Black Farmers Hub in Raleigh, the Hunters were driven to open their second store a little closer to their roots.

It’s a unique name with a unique inventory providing a niche product for all to enjoy. Along with the local produce and food staples, the store will be stocked with coffee, teas and cold-pressed drinks, all in a friendly environment with free WiFi.

The name Peanut and Zelb’s is inspired by the parents of both Latonya and Demetrius. Hunter’s father, Zelb, delivered local Johnston County produce by mule and cart to the Wake County area, and LaTonya’s mother Carolyn “Peanut” Drew-Andrews of Warren County was an educator in Wake County and a community champion.

“We are committed to tackling the challenges of food justice in areas with limited access to healthy options,” said Demetrius Hunter. “We hope to increase equity in farming and food access and to be a diverse market for the community of Warren County.”

Peanut and Zelb’s stakeholders will include members of the community – producers and employees. Consumers have the option to shop at the store or enjoy the convenience of home deliveries. The cost for a subscription is $60 per quarter.

For more information about Peanut and Zelb’s, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090870609835&mibextid=LQQJ4d.

Kittrell Man Gets 15-Year Prison Term For 2019 Bank Robberies

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A Kittrell man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for his role in two bank robberies in 2019.

Cameron Evans, 27, was sentenced to 185 months in prison, having been convicted along with three other men for the robbery of a SunTrust bank in Raleigh and a BB&T in Greenville, , according to information from the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

According to court records and other information presented in court, On Dec. 6, 2019, the SunTrust bank located at 7320 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh, was robbed at gunpoint by four men. The men left the bank with approximately $11,578.00 and witnesses saw them fleeing the scene in a white Hyundai Elantra. On Dec. 30, 2019, around 4:30 p.m., the Branch Bank & Trust (BB&T) located 2475 Stantonsburg Road in Greenville was robbed at gunpoint by three men. They left the bank with $72,853 and witnesses saw them flee the scene in a white Hyundai Elantra. Law enforcement was able to obtain the registration number from the vehicle which enabled them to find Evans and his codefendants.

In an interview with law enforcement, Evans would admit to committing the SunTrust and BB&T bank robberies. The codefendants in this case were Clifton Harris, Stanley Kearney Jr. and Joshua Bailey. All three have pled guilty. Harris was sentenced to 81 months and Kearney was sentenced to 190 months.  Bailey is awaiting sentencing.