VGCC Nursing Students Hosting Blood Drive on Sept. 18

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Members of Vance-Granville Community College’s Student Nurses’ Association are partnering with the American Red Cross to host a Blood Drive for the college campus and the community. The drive will be held in the Civic Center on Main Campus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18.

“The VGCC SNA is leading this initiative because our students know this drive can have such a lifesaving impact on many people,” said Heather Wilson, a nursing instructor at VGCC. “We want to show our community and the patients in need of blood just how much we can do to save lives.”

The Red Cross has more than 130 years of experience providing humanitarian aid – including more than 70 years of supplying blood to those in need, Wilson noted. “Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more,” she said. “What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country.”

Everyone wishing to help the drive can schedule an appointment at the web address https://www.redcrossblood.org/give/drive/driveSearch.jsp using the sponsor code VGCC. Anyone with questions about the blood drive can contact Wilson at wilsonh@vgcc.edu or Erica Jastrow, VGCC’s department chair of nursing, at jastrowe@vgcc.edu.

An American Red Cross representative works with a donor at a recent Blood Drive on one of Vance-Granville Community College’s four campuses. The VGCC Student Nurses’ Association is hosting a drive at the Main Campus of the college on Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Photo VGCC)

The Red Cross has also started a new campaign called RapidPass, a new tool that allows blood donors to help save lives in less time. Completed on the date of the drive, RapidPass allows donors to complete their pre-reading and donation questions online from the comfort and privacy of home or office, reducing the time spent at the blood drive by up to 15 minutes.

The steps for RapidPass are: (1) visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass, (2) read the information, (3) answer the questions, and (4) print the pass or email it to yourself. RapidPass cannot be completed prior to the date of the drive, Jastrow noted. Donors who do not bring the printed pass with them to their donation or cannot show it on a mobile device will be asked to complete the questions again.

“RapidPass does not take the place of scheduling an appointment,” Jastrow said. “An appointment must still be scheduled. Saving lives is important to everyone, and everyone’s time is valuable. We hope donors will make the most of it with RapidPass.”

In addition to the normal whole blood donation, the American Red Cross will also have two double red cell machines, noted as Power Red appointments. Double red cell donations from Type O donors and donors with Rh-negative blood types play an important role in maintaining blood supply levels, the Red Cross says. Donors need to meet slightly higher hemoglobin and body height/weight requirements in order to be able to give a double red cell donation. Double red cell donation takes approximately 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation and allows the donor to give two units of red blood cells.

“You lose less volume when donating if you give via the double red cell machine because you are actually returned all your products except the red cells,” Wilson said. “This means you feel better after giving blood via a double red cell than a ‘regular donation’ and are not as prone to dehydration.”

Jastrow added, “We look forward to seeing students, staff and members of the community at the blood drive, and we encourage everyone to share this information with friends, family and others who also would be interested in helping us save lives.”

Pope Foundation Honors Retired President Sawyer With New VGCC Award

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Pope Foundation has created a new Academic Achievement Scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College in honor of retired Variety Wholesalers, Inc., President Wilson Sawyer of Raleigh.

The scholarship will award $500 per year to a deserving student enrolled at Vance-Granville. Priority will be given to students who are employees of Variety Wholesalers (home store, distribution center or retail stores) and members of the families of those employees. Preference will be given to students who are pursuing a degree in Business Administration.

“Our business roots in the area go back many years and we are proud to call Henderson and Vance County ‘home,’” said James Arthur “Art” Pope, chairman of Variety Wholesalers. “Wilson never lost sight of our customers and our promise to deliver great value and prices. We’re grateful for his friendship and dedication over these many years. We hope this scholarship inspires a new generation of leaders who share Wilson’s commitment to service.”

Wilson Sawyer, center, the retired president of Variety Wholesalers, Inc., in Henderson, has been honored by the Pope Foundation with the creation of an Academic Achievement Scholarship to benefit students of Vance-Granville Community College. With him, from left, are Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, and Kay Currin, endowment specialist. (VGCC Photo)

“There are two reasons I’m excited about this scholarship,” said the honoree, Sawyer. “Number 1, if it helps folks in the company that helped me for many years, that’s a plus. Number 2, I’m a big supporter of the community college program and I think it’s important to encourage folks to start their education here.”

Sawyer knows about the community college experience first-hand, he said. His daughter was a student at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford before transferring to a four-year institution when the family moved to Raleigh. “She excelled in college and I think it’s because of the basis that she got at the community college.” His daughter is now a school teacher, he said.

Following a lifelong career in retail, Sawyer retired as president of Variety Wholesalers in February.  He started his career in the Maxway store management program, rising to hold various roles. When Variety Wholesalers acquired Maxway in 1990, Sawyer stayed with the company as president of the Maxway division. After years of leading multiple store brand divisions, he was named president and chief operating officer of Variety Wholesalers Stores in 2003. When Bruce Efird joined Variety Wholesalers Stores as president in 2017, Saywer moved to holding company leadership. He remains on Variety’s board of directors and is assisting the company in an advisory capacity.

“We are excited that the Pope Foundation and Variety Wholesalers have chosen to honor Mr. Sawyer with this new scholarship,” said Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund. “Both have been stalwart supporters of our students and the college through contributions to scholarships and activities such as our golf tournament which also benefit students.”

“I’ve been so impressed with the community support that has come to my attention since becoming Vance-Granville’s interim president,” added Dr. Gordon Burns, who assumed the new role in mid-August while VGCC searches for a permanent president. “This gift from the Pope Foundation will continue to honor Mr. Sawyer and help students each and every year, serving as a reminder of the importance of a community and its institutions getting involved in the education of our citizens. We are so grateful.”

Founded in 1986 and located in Raleigh, the Pope Foundation makes grants to advance individual freedom, personal responsibility and encourage opportunity for all North Carolinians. The Pope Foundation’s lifetime giving totals more than $145 million directed to over 400 nonprofits. The Pope Foundation receives its support from the Pope family, owner and operator of the Henderson-based Variety Wholesalers, Inc.

The new scholarship will add to the more than 9,000 scholarships that have been awarded to students since 1982, funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business, industry or organization with a lasting gift to education. In the Fall of 2017, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to 306 students.

For more information, the Office of the Endowment can be reached by calling Endowment Specialist Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Continues to Improve School Performance Grades

-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools continue to make gains in performance grades with six schools making an “A” or a “B” during the 2017-2018 academic year. That is up from two “B” schools just three years ago.

Nine schools earned a “C” and 14 out of the 16 schools met or exceeded growth. Within three years’ time, the district went from seven low performing schools in 2014-2015 to one low performing school in 2017-2018.

School grades are based on an 80/20 formula. 80 percent of the mark comes from proficiency of end-of-year tests, 20 percent of the grade is based on student growth.

Franklin County Schools’ composite score is nine percentage points ahead of where the district was three years ago. The score is 57.5, or up 8.7 points from the 2014-2015 school year.

“We meet every student where they are and strive for growth. 87% of our schools met or exceeded a year’s worth of growth for a year’s worth of instruction. Our staff demonstrated a commitment to excellence, which contributed to the moving from seven low performing schools to just one, over three academic years. We are proud of our accomplishments and will continue to build upon these through fostering relationships and setting high standards for instruction in the classroom,” says Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Schuhler.

Most schools maintained or increased their letter grade. There was also a significant improvement in school growth in comparison from last academic year—to the current one.

When it comes to individual school performance, the Early College High School earned an “A” for the second year and exceeded growth for the third straight year.

Bunn Middle School exceeded growth for the second straight year and Royal Elementary exceeded growth for the first time ever.

Franklinton Elementary School is no longer a low performing school, earning a “C”.

Youngsville Elementary is a “B” school for the first time since the 2014-2015 school year.

Laurel Mill Elementary is a “B” school… going from a 54 or “D “low performing school to a 71 or “B” in just three years. It is only one of four North Carolina schools to see that type of increase in a three-year period.

All high schools met or exceeded growth with Louisburg High School increasing by 2.5 composite points. The Early College High School went up 2.8 composite points.

Results also show our graduates are career and college ready.

Franklin County’s graduation rate came in at the highest ranking since the state started to keep track of the figure. 86% of high school seniors graduated in the last academic school year, up one percentage point from the previous year. It is also right in line with the state average of 86.3%

80% of the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) graduates received a certificate or credential and 25% of graduates earned at least one post-secondary credit.

Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Schuhler credits a change in school culture for the marked success, especially at the elementary school level. School leaders are holding teachers accountable and teachers are holding parents and students accountable. It is a culture where learning is possible.

“Our staff is focused on the right thing which is student achievement. Our teachers are going to do what is right for our kids and because of that, we are going to get positive results. When principals build strong relationships with teachers, teacher vitality improves. Teachers are happier to come to work and they, in turn, give our students the best possible education.”

Street Value of $11K Worth of Drugs Seized From Two Henderson Residents

-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On August 30, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit and Community Action Team, arrested two Franklin County residents: Timmie Lee Richardson and Gerretta Harrison Richardson of 885 Tollie Weldon Road, Henderson, NC on a variety of drug offenses.

Timmie Lee Richardson

This investigation into illegal narcotics trafficking began as a result of citizen complaints alleging that drug activity was occurring at 885 Tollie Weldon Road, Henderson, NC. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was able to confirm the information provided and began an investigation which led to fourteen (14) felony drug charges against Timmie Lee Richardson and three (3) felony drug charges against Gerretta Harrison Richardson.

In addition to the arrests, a search warrant was executed at 885 Tollie Weldon Road which resulted in the seizure of Cocaine, Marijuana, four (4) firearms, US Currency and two (2) vehicles. The street value of the drugs seized is $11,764.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch (ALE), Henderson Police Department and the NC National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “Our Drug Unit continues to put an emphasis on making cases that make a difference in our communities. These arrests were the direct result of concerned citizens providing valuable information that we were able to use in our investigation and teamwork among several agencies. We will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue drug activity in our county.”

Gerretta Harrison Richardson

Timmie Lee Richardson – 885 Tollie Weldon Road Henderson, NC 27537 DOB: 01/20/1973

Trafficking Cocaine, Possess with the Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine (4 Counts), Sell Cocaine (3 Counts), Maintain a Dwelling for the purpose of Selling Cocaine (4 Counts), Possess with the Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Maintain a Dwelling for the purpose of Selling Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm by Felon.

Timmie Lee Richardson is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.

Gerretta Harrison Richardson 885 Tollie Weldon Road Henderson, NC 27537 DOB: 05/06/1973

Possess with the Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Sell Cocaine, Maintain a Dwelling for the purpose of Selling Cocaine.

Gerretta Harrison Richardson was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $40,000 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) 496-2186.

Sneed, Louisburg Resident, Arrested on Nine Felony Drug Charges

-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On August 28, 2018, The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. of 413 Ridley Street, Louisburg, NC on nine (9) felony drug charges.

This investigation was the result of citizen complaints alleging that Mr. Sneed was involved in illegal drug activity within Franklin County. As a result of these complaints, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit verified the information and coordinated an enforcement strategy with the Louisburg Police Department which ultimately led to Mr. Sneed’s arrest.

On August 28, 2018, The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. of 413 Ridley Street, Louisburg, NC on nine (9) felony drug charges.

In addition to the arrest of Mr. Sneed, a search warrant was conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Louisburg Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located during the search.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “When alert and concerned citizens see what they believe to be drug activity in their neighborhood and they contact our office with the information, we will respond. This is another example of how partnering with our police departments within the county is making our citizens safer.”

Louisburg Police Chief Jason Abbot stated, “Our partnership with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is vital to the success of our drug initiative. Sheriff Winstead and I are committed to working together for safer communities”.

Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.

Daniel Lee Sneed Jr. 09/16/1989

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine (3 Counts) Sell Cocaine (3 Counts) Maintain a Dwelling place for the purpose of Selling Cocaine (3 Counts)

For more information regarding this arrest or to provide information to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at 919-496-2186.

VGCC Pins 15 Practical Nursing Graduates

 -Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Fifteen Practical Nursing graduates were honored for their completion of the one-year program at Vance-Granville Community College during a pinning ceremony on July 25 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus.

Upon receiving their diplomas, the graduates are now eligible to sit for the national exam for licensed practical nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Among the Practical Nursing graduates recognized at the ceremony were Reuben Aluoch of Raleigh, Eunice Ayaa of Creedmoor, Christopher Ellis of Wake Forest, Nikitra Hall of Wake Forest, Jason Hurley of Youngsville, Rumana Ibrahim of Raleigh, Cassidy Ivey of Henderson, Tiffany Lemay of Warrenton, Eric Luckenbaugh of Durham, Charles Ngeve of Durham, Joyce Nyaanga of Morrisville, Rose Nyagaka of Raleigh, Wyverta Rawls of Raleigh, Cherrie Satterfield of Rougemont, and Youlanda Simpson of Durham.

Welcoming remarks were offered by Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs; Erica Jastrow, the college’s chair of the Nursing Department; and Eunice Ayaa, president of the Practical Nursing Class of 2018.

Above: Graduates honored at the VGCC Practical Nursing pinning ceremony included, first (front) row, from left: Cassidy Ivey, Tiffany Lemay, Joyce Nyaanga and Nikitra Hall; second row, from left: Cherrie Satterfield, Eric Luckenbaugh, Wyverta Rawls; third row, from left: Christopher Ellis, Jason Hurley, Eunice Ayaa, Reuben Alouch, Youlanda Simpson and Charles Ngeve. (VGCC photo)

“Our Nursing program goes all the way back to 1970, almost to the founding of this great institution of which will celebrate 50 years of existence next year,” said Dr. Brown. “Now we are proud to add to that history the Practical Nursing Class of 2018, a diverse group of students from several towns in our region.” While many members of the class have chosen specific nursing specialties for their careers, many also plan to continue their education, he said.  He encouraged the graduates to “aspire, accelerate and achieve in every walk of life.”

“With success comes great responsibility,” Jastrow noted in her remarks. “These students will have the responsibility of preparing for a challenging licensing exam. So if they tell you they still have to study, they really are telling you the truth…. I also hope they will take the opportunity to share their success so that others might be inspired to take the same journey they did.”

Ayaa, the class president, offered thanks to the instructors both at VGCC and in the clinical sites where the students received on-the-job experience. “You all have taught us what will help our patients the most,” she said.

“To our family and friends, thank you for listening to us,” she said. “Thank you for letting us perform skills on you. Thank you for lending us money. I hope we will pay them back!” she added, to laughter from the room. “Thank you for helping us accomplish our dreams. We could not have done it without you — not forgetting the North Carolina taxpayers and our donors. Thank you for your generosity, for the scholarships and the financial aid we received when we could no longer work and pay for our tuition. We are so grateful.”

Heather Wilson, Nursing instructor and SimLab Coordinator, shared the story of the distinctive Nursing Pin which was awarded to each student by Jastrow during the ceremony. During the pinning, biographies were read by Kathy Bray, nursing instructor, and Vanessa Ramseur, nursing instructor, presented lamps to the graduates. The story of the lamp was shared by Patsy Pegram, nursing instructor, and the lighting of the lamps was initiated by Brande McIlroy, nursing instructor, while Crystal Senter, nursing instructor, led the Nursing Pledge.

More photos: Check out VGCC’s album on Flickr!

New Hope Christian Church Site of Latest Breaking & Entering of Place of Worship

-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On August 24, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit issued warrants for the arrest of Austin Patrick Wells and Timothy Hunter Duke both Franklin County residents. Austin Patrick Wells and Timothy Hunter Duke were charged with the following: one (1) count of Felony Break and Enter Place of Worship and one (1) count of Larceny after Breaking and Entering. The alleged incident stemmed from a Breaking and Entering and Larceny at New Hope Christian Church, 2779 NC 98 Hwy W. Louisburg, NC. Both subjects are currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center.

Timothy Hunter Duke 205 Pine Ridge RD Louisburg, NC 27549 DOB: 12-26-1996

Austin Patrick Wells 2620 Hwy 98 Louisburg, NC 27549 DOB: 10-16-2000

This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please call Detective W. Daniels at 919-340-4343.

Austin Patrick Wells

Timothy Hunter Duke

U.S. Department of Justice

Opinion: Prosecutors Need the Tools to Protect Americans From Violent Offenders

Opinion piece by Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina

Nothing federal prosecutors do is more important than protecting our fellow Americans from violence. In recent years, however, we have lost one of the most important tools we use to protect our communities: the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Only Congress can restore the ACCA to help us keep our neighborhoods safe.

The ACCA operated on a simple premise: when a felon is convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, he receives a mandatory fifteen-year sentence if his prior convictions include three or more “violent felonies” or “serious drug offenses.” These “armed career criminals” are not low-level offenders but rather criminals who have already been convicted of multiple serious offenses and then were caught with a firearm. In contrast to those included under the ACCA, lower sentences are given to felons who illegally possess firearms but lack that violent history. Common sense tells us that when a felon with a violent past illegally possesses a firearm, he is extremely dangerous and must be incarcerated. The ACCA was intended to bring that common-sense idea to the law.

For a long time, the ACCA really worked. After a period of increasing violent crime in America, President Reagan signed the ACCA into law in 1984. From 1964 to 1980, the overall violent crime rate tripled in the United States. Robbery crimes and rapes tripled, and murders doubled. Then came the ACCA and other major criminal reforms; the elimination of parole, reform of the bail system, the sentencing guidelines, and better funding for law enforcement. The goal of these reforms was to reduce violent crime, and from 1991 to 2014, violent crime dropped by half. Murders and aggravated assaults dropped by half, while robberies dropped by nearly two-thirds. The ACCA, along with these other reforms, was a resounding success that made our neighborhoods safer.

So what happened to the ACCA? The answer is a 2015 Supreme Court decision called Johnson v. United States. There, the Supreme Court considered whether Samuel Johnson, a white supremacist who admitted to planning acts of domestic terrorism, was properly deemed an armed career criminal after he was found guilty of illegally possessing an AK-47, several other firearms, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The Supreme Court concluded that Johnson was not an armed career criminal because his prior conviction for illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun was not a “violent felony.” Most importantly, in reaching that conclusion the Supreme Court held that part of the definition of “violent felony” in the ACCA was too vague to understand and thus violated the Constitution’s guarantee of due process. As a result, the Court struck that part of the definition from the statute, and now, after Johnson, many of the crimes that once were considered “violent felonies” under the ACCA no longer qualify.

It is no exaggeration to say that Johnson destroyed the common-sense nature of the ACCA. Courts across the country have ruled that many plainly violent crimes are no longer “violent felonies.” Even murder is being challenged in some jurisdictions. Here in North Carolina, our common law robbery crime—taking property from someone by means of violence or fear—is no longer a “violent felony,” nor (believe it or not) is shooting into an occupied building. It just doesn’t make any sense, and clearly, no one intended the ACCA to lead to these absurd results.

Because of Johnson, more than 1,400 violent career criminals have been released early, and 600 of those have already been arrested again just three years later. On average, these 600 offenders have been arrested or reoffended three times. As the Attorney General recently stated, “Releasing repeat offenders has consequences.” Those awful consequences have been felt in our communities, such as in Utah, where a career criminal released because of Johnson tortured and murdered two teenagers, and in California, where a career criminal released after Johnson allegedly murdered his father, carjacked a vehicle, and killed the vehicle’s driver.

Just last month in the Eastern District of North Carolina, Charlie O’Bryant Terry was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison for obstruction of justice and illegal possession of a firearm (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/henderson-man-sentenced-20-years-federalprison-obstructing-justice-and-illegal). This was not Terry’s first federal sentence. In fact, in 2008, Terry had been sentenced under the ACCA to fifteen years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after three prior violent felonies, including two common law robberies. Because of Johnson, in August 2016, Terry’s fifteen-year sentence under the ACCA was vacated when his previous convictions for common law robbery no longer qualified as violent felonies. As a result, Terry was released early and placed on federal supervised release.

In January 2017, a mere five months after his release from custody, Terry struck again, assaulting and robbing a couple at gunpoint. During the assault, Terry placed a pistol in the mouth of one of the victims, and he cut the other victim’s head by repeatedly hitting the victim with the firearm, requiring staples to close the wound. After Terry was arrested in April 2017 for violating his federal supervision, federal agents executed a search warrant for Terry’s cellular telephone and found that Terry had taken several “selfies,” or photographs of himself, with an AR-15 semiautomatic firearm the day prior to his arrest. While in jail, Terry also threatened one of the victims in an effort to change his testimony. Terry received a twenty-year sentence for his postrelease conduct, but if his sentence under the ACCA had not been cut short due to Johnson, Terry’s victims would have been safe from his violent criminal behavior in the first place.

Johnson caused these violent offenders to be released early, and going forward federal prosecutors will no longer be able to ensure sufficient sentences for many repeat violent offenders caught illegally possessing firearms. Innocent people will face the tragic consequences that will follow these offenders back to our streets, and the law enforcement officers who protect us will face the danger of confronting and arresting again the same violent felons they already removed from our streets years ago.

But amidst all this bad news, there is still room for something positive: Congress can fix the ACCA. The Supreme Court in Johnson found part of the ACCA’s definition unconstitutionally vague, but the Court left it open to Congress to craft a new definition that avoids these problems. The Attorney General and the Department of Justice have been working with members of Congress to create awareness about this urgent problem. The ACCA focuses on the most dangerous career felons—the kind we can and must take off the streets to protect our communities.

Congress made our nation so much safer in 1984 by passing the Armed Career Criminal Act. Now we need Congress to keep us safe in 2018 by fixing it.

News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter @USAO_EDNC.

Franklin County Logo

Franklin Co. Utility Advisory Comm. to Meet Thurs., Aug. 30

-Press Release, Franklin County

SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

Utilities Advisory Committee

The Franklin County Utility Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at 8 a.m. in the Franklin County Administration Building, 113 Market Street, Louisburg, North Carolina.

Two Vance Co. Residents Arrested for Allegedly Breaking Into a Church

-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On August 22, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Investigation Units, and Bunn Police Department arrested Michael Dustin Ellis and Colton Tyler Bullock both Vance County residents. Michael Dustin Ellis and Colton Tyler Bullock were charged with the following: two (2) counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking and Entering and one (1) count of Attempted Larceny. The alleged incident stemmed from a Breaking and Entering and Larceny at Rowland Chapel Christian Church, 2293 Epsom Rocky Ford Road Henderson, NC.

Michael Dustin Ellis was also served with one outstanding (1) felony Larceny warrant and one (1) misdemeanor Larceny warrant.

Colton Tyler Bullock was also served with one (1) felony warrant for Identity Theft and two (2) Orders for Arrest to Include Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Michael Dustin Ellis is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a

$102,000.00 secured bond.

Colton Tyler Bullock is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $165,000.00 secured bond.

Michael Dustin Ellis

1291 Faulkner Town Road Henderson, NC 27536 DOB: 12-07-1990

Colton Tyler Bullock

5973 Satterwhite Point Road Lot 9 Henderson, NC 27536 DOB: 05-21-1989

This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please call Detective B. Garrett at 919-340-4311 or Detective N. Kapl at 919-340-4344.

Michael Dustin Ellis

Colton Tyler Bullock