Garry Daeke, development coordinator for Franklin-Granville-Vance (FGV) Smart Start, was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to announce the winners of the 9th Annual Ducky Derby Fundraiser.
The Ducky Derby race, originally scheduled for September 15, 2018, was canceled due to expected inclement weather from Hurricane Florence. Instead, a drawing for prizes was held on Friday, September 21 at the FGV Smart Start office. Those that could not attend in person were able to view the drawing live on FGV’s Facebook page.
According to Daeke, this marks the first year in the organization’s nine years of holding the event that the outdoor rubber ducky race had to be canceled. “This is the first year that we haven’t been able to do it,” Daeke said. “We’ve always had in our contest – it’s in the rules – that if we aren’t able to have our race determined by the ducks that we’d have a random drawing the next week.”
Contest winners include First Place – $1,000, Gayla Currin of Creedmoor; Second Place – $500, Dorothy Branch of Youngsville; Third Place – $250, Edna Jarrett of Lawrenceville, VA; and Fourth Place – $100, Brian Scott of Raleigh.
Charlotte Evans of Oxford won the prize of 52 free meals courtesy Chick-fil-A.
As far as putting a damper on overall money raised, Daeke said Smart Start still did pretty well despite the canceled race. “We’re going to do pretty well; haven’t seen final numbers yet. I think we’ll do as well as we generally do, somewhere in the six to seven thousand dollar range. That money all goes back into our programs for young children.”
While approximately 250 – 300 fewer tickets were sold this year due to the loss of day-of ticket sales, the cost savings from the canceled race helped cover the difference.
Though pleased with the overall outcome, Daeke said Smart Start staff were a little disappointed not to watch the ducks flood downtown Henderson this year. “We’re pretty happy with how things went, although we were sad not to get out and run the duck race because it’s a highlight for all of us too!”
Five Vance-Granville Community College students were formally inducted into the North Carolina Piedmont “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) program in a ceremony in August at North Carolina A&T State University’s Union Square Campus in Greensboro.
RIBN is a partnership involving the university, VGCC, Davidson County Community College (DCCC) and Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC).
This year’s inductees from VGCC are Jolina Chiong of Henderson, Madison Hetrick of Henderson, Jaslin Renteria of Henderson, Chris Trotman of Durham and April Zuniga-Trejo of Henderson.
At the induction ceremony, the A&T School of Nursing welcomed students from VGCC and the other community colleges who will be simultaneously enrolled at the university. RIBN students earn associate’s degrees in nursing over three years (while also taking A&T courses online) and then continue for one year of additional courses at A&T required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Above: Shown celebrating the induction of five new students in RIBN at NCA&T in Greensboro, from left, are VGCC Academic/Career Coach Seletha Pherribo, VGCC Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas, RIBN student inductees Jolina Chiong, Madison Hetrick, Chris Trotman, Jaslin Renteria, and April Zuniga-Trejo, VGCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Levy Brown, and Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow. (VGCC photo)
Erica Jastrow, the Nursing department chair for VGCC, presented each college’s student inductees with a certificate of induction as part of the ceremony, while Academic/Career Coach Seletha Pherribo read a brief biography of each one.
With five out of the 11 students selected for this year’s cohort, VGCC again had the most inductees among the three community colleges in the partnership. In 2017, VGCC had 11 of the 18 students selected, more inductees that the two other community colleges combined. In the first year of the partnership, 2016, the initial cohort consisted of three students, one from each community college.
The North Carolina Piedmont RIBN initiative is one of nine such partnerships that have been launched in North Carolina since 2008 under the direction of the Foundation for Nursing Excellence (FFNE) to increase the educational preparation of North Carolina’s nursing workforce.
In addition to recognizing the RIBN Advisory Board members, Jastrow thanked employers who have met with RIBN students to outline employment opportunities that lie ahead for graduates. “This really shows how desirable our RIBN students are,” she said. “The employers are seeking them out, wanting to come and talk with them.” She also thanked the community and university administrators for providing the fiscal and human resources to support the RIBN students.
Dr. Terry Ward, director of the A&T School of Nursing, praised the students for enrolling in RIBN. “You are going to reduce the impact on the financial debt for our country by saving money and creating a bridge to your education,” she said. “That’s extremely important in today’s times.”
Citing the rising cost of education for young people and the impact it is having, she added, “It’s amazing to see that so many people are doing what they need to do to create the future nurses that we need, to create people who will have economic stability and power. You are showing people it can be done.”
In addition to RIBN, VGCC has a partnership with A&T to allow graduates of its Associate Degree Nursing program to transition easily to the university’s four-year Bachelor’s program. For more information about Nursing at VGCC and bachelor’s degree options, contact academic/career coach Seletha Pherribo at (252) 738-3518 or Nursing department chair Erica Jastrow at (252) 738-3457.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/VGCC-RIBN-Inductees-2018.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-25 16:55:262018-09-25 16:57:54Five VGCC Students Join RIBN Program in NC A&T Ceremony
The Vance-Granville Community College Health Sciences clubs are collecting donations at all four VGCC campuses for a “Prom Attire” collection drive through February 28, 2019.
All donations will be collected for a giveaway event to provide local high school students free attire to fulfill their prom dreams, according to Stacey Soles, VGCC’s program head for Medical Assisting and clinical coordinator for Radiography.
The drive is the second for the Health Sciences Clubs in Radiography, Human Services, Pharmacy, Histotechnology, Medical Assisting and Nursing.
Dozens of prom dresses were donated for the first “Prom Attire” collection drive held earlier this year on Vance-Granville Community College’s four campuses. A drive is now underway through February 2019 to collect suits, shirts, dresses, shoes and accessories to be donated to high school students for free to fulfill their prom dreams. Donations can be dropped off at any VGCC campus. (Photo Credit: VGCC)
The club leaders are asking that only clean, gently-used or new items be donated. All sizes will be accepted. The clubs also request that no dated items be donated.
Items that will be accepted are:
• Suits & Shirts: Tuxedos, suits, suit separates, dress shirts, slacks, vests;
• Ties & Shoes: Neck ties, bow ties, dress shoes;
• Dressy Dresses: Gowns, prom, party, formal; and
• Accessories & Shoes: Jewelry/hair accessories, handbags/clutches.
Soles said that the clubs could use more items for males. “In our initial drive, we received a good number of dresses that are available for distribution next year,” she said. “We are especially in need of suits, dress shirts and slacks for men.”
Drop-off locations are located at:
• Main Campus, Building 5, Room 5225: Audrey Stainback;
• South Campus, Building 2, Room G2212: Stacey Soles;
• Franklin Campus, Building 1, Room F1101: Priscilla Lewis; and
• Warren Campus, Building 1, Room W1101: Ruthie Davis.
For more information, donors should contact Stacey Soles at (252) 738-3515 or soless@vgcc.edu.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/VGCC-Prom-Attire-Drive-2018.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-24 16:54:162018-09-24 16:54:16VGCC Health Sciences Clubs Conducting Second ‘Prom Attire’ Drive
-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff
On September 20, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, Community Action Team, Special Response Team and US Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested Franklin County resident, Hayward Therbert Lynch for multiple drug violations. In addition to the arrest, a search warrant was executed at 520 Earlie Collins Road, Castalia, NC.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit received information that Hayward Therbert Lynch was involved in the illegal sell of controlled substances in and around Franklin County. An investigation into these allegations led Detectives to 520 Earlie Collins Road where a search warrant resulted in the seizure of Crack Cocaine, Prescription Pills, US Currency and other items related to drug activity.
Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “The focus of our Drug Unit continues to be on making a difference in our communities. This arrest is another example of how our drug enforcement strategies and priorities are paying off.”
On September 20, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, Community Action Team, Special Response Team and US Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested Franklin County resident, Hayward Therbert Lynch for multiple drug violations.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was assisted in this investigation by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch of the State Bureau of Investigation.
Hayward Therbert Lynch
520 Earlie Collins Road
Castalia, NC 27816
Hayward Therbert Lynch was charged with the following:
Possession of Crack Cocaine
Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance
Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
Possess with the intent to Sell and Deliver Crack Cocaine (4 Counts)
Sell and Deliver Crack Cocaine (4 Counts)
Maintain a Dwelling for the purpose of Selling Controlled Substances (5 Counts)
Hayward Therbert Lynch is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.
For more information regarding this investigation, or to provide information regarding drug activity in your community, please contact Sergeant Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Hayward-Lynch-Mug-Shot-2018.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-24 16:53:442018-09-24 16:53:44Franklin Co. Sheriff’s Office Arrests Lynch for Multiple Drug Violations
-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff
On September 19, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit and Community Action Team arrested Franklin County resident, Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr. for multiple drug offenses.
This investigation was the result of citizen complaints alleging that Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr. was involved in illegal drug activity throughout Franklin and surrounding counties. As a result of these complaints, Narcotics Detectives initiated an investigation and was able to validate the information provided.
During the investigation, multiple purchases of Controlled Substances were made from Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr.
Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is committed to aggressively pursuing illegal drug activity and we will continue to make these investigations a priority. The citizens of our county continue to be proactive in providing information that is useful to our investigators and their tips are paying off.”
On September 19, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit and Community Action Team arrested Franklin County resident, Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr. for multiple drug offenses. This investigation was the result of citizen complaints alleging that Kemmerzell, Jr. was involved in illegal drug activity throughout Franklin and surrounding counties.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was assisted in this investigation by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch of the State Bureau of Investigation.
Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr.
52 Wilson Fuller Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
DOB: 03/09/1988
Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr. was charged with the following: Possess with the Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin (2 Counts), Sell and Deliver Heroin (2 Counts), Maintain a Vehicle for the purpose of Selling Controlled Substances (2 Counts), Possession of a Schedule Ill Controlled Substance.
Mark Thomas Kemmerzell, Jr. is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.
For more information regarding this investigation, or to provide information regarding drug activity in your community, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 340-3432.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Mug-Shot-of-Mark-Kemmerzell-Jr..png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-21 16:52:072018-09-21 16:52:07Drug Activity Complaints Lead to Arrest of Franklin Co. Man
-Information and chart courtesy Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board, County of Franklin
According to Franklin County Emergency Services Director Jeff Lewis, there are no reports of road closures in Franklin County due to flooding at this time.
As of 9 a.m. Thursday morning, the Tar River in Louisburg was below minor flood levels.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-20 16:54:012018-09-20 16:28:10Tar River Below Flood Levels; No Road Closures in Franklin Co.
The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees approved a firm to assist in the search for a new president, adopted a budget for the current fiscal year, and welcomed a trustee who is returning to the board after being away for two years. The actions came at the bi-monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, on the college’s Main Campus.
The Trustees selected the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLC of Emerald Isle to assist in the search for a replacement for Dr. Stelfanie Williams who left the college in August to take a job with Duke University.
ELA describes itself as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence — one community college at a time.”
VGCC’s newest Trustee, Dr. Doris Terry Williams, was sworn in for a four-year appointment on the college board by retired District Court Judge J. Henry Banks. From left are Judge Banks, Dr. Williams and Jerry Stainback, the attorney for the Board of Trustees, who assisted with the swearing in. (Photo Credit: VGCC)
The firm will help the VGCC Board of Trustees by guiding the search process, creating a presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, and recruiting and screening applicants as needed. The search will begin in October with plans to have the new president in place in March 2019. The trustees are expected to present finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for evaluation early in 2019, according to Dr. Gordon Burns who is serving as interim president for the college. Dr. Burns served as president of Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro for 18 years before retiring in 2014.
Six firms responded to the requests for proposals, according to Trustee Deborah Brown, chair of the Trustees’ presidential search committee. Serving with Brown are Trustees Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.
Budget Adopted
The Trustees adopted a budget of $33,166,414 for the new fiscal year, approving VGCC’s budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 on a recommendation from the Budget Committee of the board, chaired by Trustee Abdul Sm Rasheed.
On the Current Expense side of the budget, $19,438,484 comes from the State of North Carolina, $2,587,868 from the four counties served by the college, and $9,273,716 from institutional funds. In the Capital Outlay budget, $1,726,846 comes from the State and $139,500 from the counties.
At the county level, Vance County is contributing $1,151,597 to the current operating funds; Granville, $752,184; Franklin, $369,168; and Warren, $225,625, with an additional $89,294 coming from institutional funds. Among capital improvement funds from the counties, Vance is contributing $73,874; Granville, $39,626; Franklin, $20,000; and Warren, $6,000.
The 2018-2019 budget is allocated as follows: institutional support: $5,433,372; curriculum instruction: $10,362,152; continuing education: $2,705,504; academic support: $1,368,526; student support: $2,075,516; plant operations and maintenance: $2,018,035; proprietary/other: $2,272,851; student aid: $5,064,112; capital outlay, excluding capital improvements: $786,141; and capital improvement projects: $1,080,205.
Dr. Doris Terry Williams Appointed To Board
Dr. Doris Terry Williams was sworn in to a four-year term on the VGCC Board of Trustees after being selected by the Vance County Board of Education to fill the vacancy created when long-time Trustee L. Opie Frazier, Jr., retired.
Dr. Williams, a retired educator and administrator, returns to the Board of Trustees after being off the board for two years. She was previously appointed to the board by the Governor’s Office in 2010 to fill an unexpired term and was reappointed in 2012 for a full four-year term.
As the owner and chief executive officer of EdComm, LLC, her own consulting group, Dr. Williams provides consultation regionally and nationally on education and community development issues.
A Vance County resident, she lived in Warren County and served on the Warren County Board of Education for 12 years, including five as the board chair. She has served as executive director of the Rural School and Community Trust and director of the Trust’s Capacity Building Program. She is now a senior fellow with the Rural Trust, which is a national non-profit dedicated to addressing the crucial relationship between good rural schools and thriving rural communities. She also has served as assistant dean and associate professor in the School of Education and director of University-School Partnerships at North Carolina Central University.
In other action:
The Trustees voted to close the Child Care Center on the Franklin Campus no later than June 1, 2019. The decision comes after an extended evaluation leading to the conclusion that the center is not financially sustainable, Dr. Burns told the board. Information packets that list other options for child care in the Franklin County area have been prepared for parents who currently have children at the center. The center, which currently has nine children, was originally created to provide Vance-Granville’s curriculum students with an environment to advance their Early Childhood experiences and to provide child care services for our students and staff. The center has been used mostly by the public in the past several years, Dr. Burns said.
In an update on capital projects, Trustee Donald C. Seifert, Sr., said a design contract was executed in August for $320,400 for fire alarm replacements and renovations to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems on the Main Campus. Fire alarm replacement work will be bid out in February 2019 with work expected to begin the following May. The HVAC renovations will begin in the summer of 2020. Meanwhile, renovation work is scheduled to start this month on the second phase of renovations to Building 10. Space is being renovated to add a Practical Simulation Lab for Law Enforcement, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services programs.
Steve Graham, VGCC’s vice president of finance and operations, reported for the Investment Committee, citing a 12 percent growth in the college’s investments since the beginning of 2017.
Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the board’s Personnel Committee, provided an informational report on new employees, retirements, resignations and changes in positions.
The Curriculum Committee, chaired by Trustee Barbara Cates Harris, presented new appointments to the Advisory Committees for college programs for the 2018-2019 academic year. The appointments were approved by the Trustees.
Presiding over the meeting was Board of Trustees Chair Danny Wright.
The Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, November 19 at the Main Campus.
-Information courtesy Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board, County of Franklin
UPDATE: Wednesday, September 19 at 9:30 a.m.
The latest forecast indicates that the Tar River in Louisburg will peak at 21.1 ft tonight, Wednesday, September 19 at 6 p.m. Minor flood stage for the Tar River in Louisburg is 20.0 ft. Moderate flood stage is 22 ft.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tar-River-Flood-Stage-2.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-19 09:41:012018-09-19 09:41:01Forecast for Tar River in Louisburg Changes; Minor Flood Stage Reached
-Information and chart courtesy Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board, County of Franklin
As of Tuesday, September 18, the latest forecast is that the Tar River in Louisburg will peak at 19.05 ft tomorrow, Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 6 p.m.
Minor flood stage for the Tar River in Louisburg is 20.0 ft.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tar-River-Flood-Stage.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-18 16:57:282018-09-18 16:57:28Tar River in Louisburg Expected to Peak Just Below Minor Flood Stage
-Information courtesy Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board, County of Franklin
Emergency Services Director Jeff Lewis has issued the information below following a recent update on roadways from the North Carolina Department of Transportation:
There is approximately two feet of water flowing over the one-lane bridge on Green Hill Road near the Franklin/Granville County line.
The US-1 river basin is flooded near the Franklin/Vance County line.
The Tar River is approximately five to six feet below flood stage in Louisburg and continues to rise.
Citizens are encouraged to move any property you may have located in an early flood-prone area. Emergency Management will continue to monitor the river gauge located in Louisburg.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-09-18 12:21:562018-09-18 16:11:17US-1 River Basin Near Franklin/Vance Co. Line Flooded; Tar River Rising
