3 GCPS Elementary Schools Earn Kudos In US News And World Report Ranking Program

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Three elementary schools in the southern end of Granville County have earned “Best Elementary Schools” badges from U.S. News and World Report, according to Granville County Public Schools Public Information Officer Courtney Currin.

Butner-Stem Elementary, Tar River Elementary and Wilton Elementary each placed among the top 40 percent of public elementary schools in North Carolina.

According to the US News and World Report, “the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.”

GCPS Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne echoed that sentiment in praise of the school staffs, stating they “do everything they can to ensure their students succeed. Because of this and the students’ hard work, the students of those schools thrive. It’s exciting that their hard work and accomplishments are recognized.”

The rankings are based on students who scored at proficient or above proficient levels on math and reading state assessments, “while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects,” according to information from the national publication.

 

 

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The Local Skinny! Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at VGCC

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Vance-Granville Community College is hosting a Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at the Henderson campus on Saturday, Nov. 16.

School representatives will be on hand from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help prospective students learn more about the programs available across the four campuses.

Whether pursuing opportunities after high school or looking for a career change, VGCC may have just what you’re looking for.

According to the VGCC website, Continuing Education classes are designed for adults looking to enhance their job skills, update their knowledge or pursue personal interests.

Learn about the diverse program that VGCC offers, including Commercial Driver’s License, Healthcare, Public Safety, Welding and Business, just to name a few. Faculty members will be on hand to share additional program information and participants can attend break-out sessions about specific fields and certifications they may be interested in pursuing.

And to top it all off, you can get help with registration, financial aid and setting up your student account – all on the same day.

The Open House will be held in Building 7 at the Main Campus, located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.

Visit www.vgcc.edu and click on Latest News and Upcoming Events tabs to learn more.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Handcrafted Holiday Market Saturday, Nov. 16 At Vance Regional Farmers Market

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is hosting its annual Handcrafted Holiday Market tomorrow, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy!

The much-anticipated holiday event transforms the market with a variety of homemade gifts sprinkled amid the bounty from fall gardens.

In addition to handmade crafts, vendors have skin care products, jewelry, quilts and more – it’s a great time to find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list.

But Market Manager Pat Ayscue says you can also shop for locally sourced meats and produce, too – there’s beef, pork, chicken, lamb, local honey, cabbage, collards, turnip salad and the best jellies, pickles, tomatoes and fall apples around!

Live Christmas music giving the sound of the season and the air will be filled with chatter from seeing old friends and the joy of making new friends.

The farmers market is located at 210 Southpark Dr. in Henderson.

TownTalk: Farmers Appreciation Day Celebration

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located close to where Leo Kelly remembers his family farmed. They weren’t big farmers, Kelly told a group gathered at the farmers market Thursday for the inaugural Farmers Appreciation Day in Vance County, but he remembers chickens, hogs and having spring, summer and fall gardens.

Kelly, vice chair of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, joined others to recognize the importance of farmers, farming and agriculture. In 2023, the Legislature set aside the second Thursday in November as Farmers Appreciation Day.

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon said the observance is a way to help people understand how farmers and farming affects them daily. These days, fewer people live near farms or don’t personally know farmers.

“Agriculture is more than planting corn and beans,” Sossamon said. It’s agritourism, small farmers producing specialty crops and more.

Vance County’s N.C. Cooperative Extension director Dr. Wykia Macon said she and her staff are always looking for ways to foster among young people an appreciation for agriculture and for farmers and to encourage them to get into agriculture.

Horticulture Agent Mike Ellington said he foresees changes in agriculture, but what remains, he believes, is the “sense of place, of purpose, community that agriculture creates.”

Vance County Commissioner Archie Taylor said he grew up on a farm and it helped shape the person he became.

“As I think about the professions we have,” he said, “no profession teaches our young kids more about hard work than farming.”

With the rise of urbanization, he said, fewer family farms meant that young folks didn’t have the “opportunity” to pitch in with chores like feeding livestock, chopping wood and all the other daily tasks a farm requires.

Taylor said he learned a lot from farm life, including “teaching me to get up in the morning, get started and get working.”

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The Local Skinny! Henderson Police Department To Participate In CALEA Assessment

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– Press release from Henderson Police Dept. Capt. Chris Ball

The Henderson Police Department will have a site-based assessment in early December as part of the reaccreditation process with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The local police department has held accredited status since 2002.

The evaluation will take place Dec. 9-12, during which time a team of assessors will evaluate the department for adherence to national standards and will identify best practices related to life, health and safety procedures, according to information from Capt. Chris Ball of the Henderson Police Department.

There are 462 specific professional standards the department must comply with to achieve and maintain accreditation status. Reaccreditation is a thorough and demanding process, and successful completion demonstrates that policies, practices and procedures align with the highest levels of law enforcement professionalism.

Accreditation follows a four-year cycle, during which police departments like the HPD must maintain electronic records to prove compliance. The records are reviewed remotely each year, culminating in a site-based assessment in the fourth year.

As part of the process, the public is invited to submit feedback via the CALEA portal at http://cimrs2.calea.org/481.

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as fostering the pursuit of professional excellence.

It is important to know that CALEA is not an investigatory body, and subsequently, the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.

Standard titles may be viewed on the CALEA website: https://www.calea.org/node/11406. The Henderson Police Department participates in the advanced level of accreditation. Questions related to the accreditation process may be directed to the Accreditation Manager at bstrother@hendersonpd.nc.gov.

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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Trickster & Jester Archetype

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Cooperative Extension 

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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3 Face Variety Of Drug, Larceny Charges Following Traffic Stop

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— press release from the Henderson Police Department

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, an officer with the Henderson Department located a vehicle that was involved in a retail theft from Walmart the previous day. The suspect of the larceny was observed in the passenger seat of the vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted. The vehicle and occupants were searched with narcotics and drug paraphernalia being found. As a result, the following individuals were taken into custody and face the following charges:

Jessica Edwards, 40, charged with

  • Misdemeanor Larceny and Felony Tampering with an Anti-Theft Device in relation to the Walmart incident.
  • Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • She was also served with outstanding warrants for Misdemeanor Larceny and Habitual Larceny out of Orange County, Misdemeanor Larceny from Wake County, Misdemeanor Larceny from Franklin County, four Orders for Arrest from various counties for failure to appear, and a Felony Probation Violation out of Vance County.

Edwards received a $33,000.00 secured bond for the probation violation and orders for arrest.  She was not given a bond for other charges due to pre-trial release.

Shawn Parham, 35, was served with:

  • Magistrate Summons from Vance County for Injury to Personal Property
  • Misdemeanor Probation Violation, also out of Vance County
  • He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Parham received a $15,000.00 secured bond for all charges.

James Salmon, 35, was charged with:

  • Two counts of Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Salmon received a $15,000.00 secured bond.

All three were remanded to the Vance County Detention Center.

Chamber Hosts Business After Hours Nov. 14 At ACIM Food Bank

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Stop by Area Congregations in Ministry tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 14 on the way home from work or errands for a Business After Hours, sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

ACIM is located at 634 Roxboro Rd. The event will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet ACIM’s new executive director, chat with board members, and mingle with some of their dedicated volunteers. Light refreshments will be provided as attendees take a tour of the facility and gain insight into the work that goes on within the walls of the food bank warehouse.

To show support for ACIM, the Chamber staff encourages each guest to bring a non-perishable food item to help keep the ACIM shelves stocked. Your generous contributions will make a difference in ACIM’s mission to relieve hunger in Granville County.

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext. 

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Saturdays 8am-1pm. 
  • The Handcrafted Holiday Market is coming up at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Saturday, November 16th from 8am-2pm. 
  • Take your soil samples to the Vance County Cooperative Extension. Do it as soon as possible. 
  • You need to have your frost protection measures ready. 
  • Go through your cleanup orchard. Clean up those leaves and limbs. 
  • Remember to use personal protective equipment when doing chores in the fall. Eye and ear protection. Even sunscreen. Use a good pair of gloves. 
  • Leaf collection season is upon us. Compost your leaves. Don’t burn them. 
  • Winterize any of your sprayers. Garden hose and other sprayers that have water in them. Let the water out so that it will not freeze and damage that equipment. 

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536 

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