Vance County Schools Names Jeremy Hetrick As School Nutrition Services Director

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Vance County Schools has named Jeremy Hetrick as the district’s new director of School Nutrition Services.

Hetrick brings more than two decades of leadership experience in food service administration, school nutrition and operations management to his new role. He has a proven track record of improving nutrition programs, overseeing large-scale budgets and ensuring compliance with USDA and state regulations, according to information from Grace Herndon with VCS Communication & Innovative Support.

Prior to joining Vance County Schools, Hetrick held leadership roles in healthcare and educational food services and has managed nutrition programs across multiple campuses, coordinated federal meal programs and led cost-saving initiatives that generated significant budget surpluses. Additionally, he has 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, where he specialized in program management and team development.

Hetrick holds a Master of Science in Management from Sullivan University and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science from Purdue University Global. He is a ServSafe Food Manager Certified and has completed the NC School Nutrition Administrators and Supervisors Course. Hetrick will be stepping into the role ahead of the upcoming retirement of Phyllis Newcomb, who is concluding her career after 47 years of service to the state, including 42 years with Vance County Schools.

Shaping the Future in Henderson & Vance County

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It’s called “Shaping the Future: A Community Empowerment Extravaganza” and Higher is Waiting Executive Director Jayden Watkins said it’s part back-to-school, part community gathering combined with a whole lot of fun.

“The purpose of the event is to bring the community together,” Watkins told WIZS’s Scout Hughes Monday.

Watkins, 17 and a rising senior at Henderson Collegiate, invites families from across the community to the event, which is taking place on Saturday, Aug. 9 in downtown Henderson in the area near the police department and Perry Memorial Library.

There will be backpacks loaded with school supplies that will be distributed and free health screenings, along with a street fair atmosphere filled with vendors and food trucks for everyone to enjoy, Watkins said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Watkins said he and Varonica “VV” Mitchell are going to co-host a talent show that is set to kick off at 12 noon.

“I welcome all ages,” Watkins said of talent show participants, whether they’re young or just young at heart – all are welcome.

Visit https://forms.gle/iWmCXjJZxEw9LXtP7 to sign up for the talent show.

Watkins said there’s still time to sign up to be a sponsor for the event.

Visit Higher is Waiting’s webpage at https://jaydenwatkins.com/higher-is-waiting and click on the sponsorship link.

“I still need more support,” he said. “That’s how we take it to the next level.”

Volunteers also are needed to help pack the backpacks on Friday, Aug. 8 and to help set up early Saturday morning. Contact Watkins at 252.425.0354 if you’d like to help make a donation of money, school supplies or if you’d like to volunteer.

Watkins has been nailing down details for this community event in between other activities he’s been busy with this summer, including preaching five times in the past week, participating in the Governor’s Page Program and another program at N.C. State University. He’s packing his bags for a 10-day residential experience for prospective journalism students at Princeton University. That’s on top of his “I Declare War” tour and cooking meals at the local shelter with his girlfriend.

“This is a vision God gave me,” he said. “Everything I do is to be obedient to God…at the end of the day, I simply want God to be pleased and proud.”

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(This information and embedded audio was orginally posted July 21, 2025.)

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: National Farmers Market Week

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We talk about the upcoming events at the farmers market in the month of August, including the National Farmers Market Week celebration on August 9th!

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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The Local Skinny! Trent Ayscue Retires From Henderson Fire Department

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The Henderson Fire Department was the place to be Friday as colleagues, family and friends paid tribute to Trent Ayscue, who retired after more than three decades of service.

Ayscue, who retired as a battalion chief, said he’d entertain the idea of coming back to work part-time after the required month of separation after retirement, and if he does, he was clear as to what he’d like to do:

“If I come back to work, it’s going to be as a firefighter,” Ayscue said, “to give back where I started. One hundred percent suppressing fire,” he said.

Former Fire Chief Danny Wilkerson called Ayscue a firefighter from the “old school,” and Ayscue agreed. He said that he and the late Steve Cordell started as volunteers at the Watkins Fire Department when they were 15 years old.

Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said he learned a lot from Ayscue, who already was in a leadership role when Twisdale joined the ranks in 2000.

In remarks to those gathered for a retirement celebration, Twisdale said Ayscue had “consistently and solidly put in service for the citizens of Henderson.” He also thanked Ayscue’s family for sharing him with the fire department.

“Thank you for your time, your love and your commitment to make us a better place,” Twisdale said. “We truly appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts.”

Being a firefighter requires passion, Ayscue said. “It’s a calling. You’re not going to get rich doing it. You have to have dedication…you have to be on your ‘A’ game every day.”

Twisdale said he and Ayscue have had the opportunity to team up as instructors at Vance-Granville Community College and to participate in live burn exercises, allowing them to take off the administrative hat for a bit.

“He and I still love to put that gear on and fight the fire ourselves, too,” Twisdale said.

He said Ayscue has been a good motivator for young firefighters, encouraging them to grow, learn and pick up on skills.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Wildlife Habitats

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Wildlife habitat can increase your enjoyment of your landscape and increase your property value.

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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One Arrested On Drug Charges

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From the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On Thursday, July 24, 2025 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Unit and the Henderson Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 3764 Warrenton Rd., as part of an investigation into heroin trafficking at the residence. Investigators located and seized Heroin, Cocaine, US Currency and other items of drug manufacturing equipment from the residence. David Lee Hendrick was arrested and charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin, possession of heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for selling controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hendrick was given a $65,000 bond.

He was placed in the Vance County Jail.