Operation Silent Night results in 88 arrests in the four county area

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Operation Silent Night results in 88 arrests in the four county area

Nearly 230 law enforcement officers from state, local, and federal agencies joined forces this week for Operation Silent Night, an enforcement operation that served outstanding criminal warrants and conducted compliance checks on high risk and violent offenders on probation and parole in Vance, Granville, Warren, and Franklin counties.

Significant arrests and accomplishments included:

  • Confiscation of 10 firearms including assault rifles and significant quantities of ammunition
  • Confiscation of significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and cash
  • Location and cleanup of a home methamphetamine lab in Franklin County
  • Absconder from post-release supervision safely brought into custody after a three-hour standoff in Franklin County
  • Recovery of a stolen vehicle in Vance County
  • Eight parole warrants issued and served for parole or post-release supervision violations
  • 118 searches of probationers attempted, 71 completed
  • 174 warrants served, 212 charges cleared, 32 probation violations issued

Participating agencies included:operation-silent-night-press-121516-wizsphoto2

U.S. Marshals Service

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Warren County Sheriff’s Office

Granville County Sheriff’s Office

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

Henderson Police Department

Butner Public Safety

Oxford Police Departmentoperation-silent-night-press-121516-wizsphoto3

Henderson-Vance Emergency Operations

NC Information Sharing and Analysis Center (NC ISAAC)

State Bureau of Investigation

U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District NC

Office of the District Attorney for District 9

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

“The U.S. Marshals Service along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will continually work to ensure that violent and repeat offenders on probation and parole supervision are compliant and held accountable for their actions,” said Scott J. Parker, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “This initiative demonstrated the partnership and dedication of the men and women from the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners throughout Eastern North Carolina. I want to thank all of the law enforcement officers from the participating agencies for their relentless pursuit of justice here in North Carolina.”

“Cooperation between state, local and federal law enforcement agencies is critical to maintaining safe communities everywhere. No agency can accomplish this alone,” said Frank L. Perry, Secretary of the NC Department of Public Safety. “We appreciate the quality work that these agencies do on a daily basis and we thank them for their collaboration on this operation.”

“The District Attorney’s office is proud to have participated in Operation Silent Night,” said Michael Waters, district attorney for Franklin, Granville, Warren, and Vance counties. “We expect the relationships forged during this effort will pay future dividends in detecting and prosecuting serious felons and probation violators.”

“The City of Henderson and its residents should be extremely pleased with the efforts put forth in this major operation,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. “Our hopes are that the work done in planning and executing Operation Silent Night will benefit our community in the months to come. This is believed to be the largest regional operation for the Henderson Police Department and we are extremely grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service, The NC Department of Public Safety and our partners for their professionalism and effort.”

“Every day the men and women of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office take proactive steps throughout the county to ensure the safety of the citizens,” said Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead. “This operation with local, state and federal agencies is another example of our commitment to continue our efforts in making this county a safe place to live and raise a family.”

“The SBI enjoys long-standing partnerships with local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies and will continue to engage in multi-agency operations like these to make North Carolina a safer place to live,” said NC State Bureau of Investigation Robert Schurmeier. “The SBI was able to contribute to overall efforts with several specialty units including the state’s fusion center (ISAAC), Special Response Team, Clandestine Lab Unit, area field agents, bomb squad and Computer Crimes Unit.”

www.usmarshals.gov

(Press Release Information Above, including two WIZS Photos and one WIZS Cover Photo.  The entire press conference was broadcast live on WIZS 1450 AM and streamed live on WIZS.com from about 10:00 a.m. until about 10:35 a.m., which included live interviews with District Attorney Mike Waters, NC SBI Director Robert Schurmeier and Lieutenant Allen Hedgepeth of the Henderson Police Department.  The press conference occurred at Clearview Church on Oxford Road in Henderson.)

Granville Little Theatre to present “Miracle on 34th Street”

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Bring your whole family to join Granville Little Theatre to share some holiday spirit as we present “Miracle on 34th Street” directed by Amy Hann.

December 15th, 16th, 17th @ 7:30PM
December 17th, 18th @ 2:30PM 

Please note the additional matinee on Saturday to accommodate as many families as possible. Santa Clause will be in the lobby before each show to take pictures! The pictures and the time with Santa are free. We ask that you make a donation to the theater if you are able, but it is not required.

House opens 30 minutes before each show. Concessions will be available before the show and at intermission. In addition to our regular concessions we will have coffee, hot chocolate, single doughnuts and doughnuts by the dozen fresh from Krispy Kreme!

Visit our website for more information: www.GranvilleLittleTheatre.org 

or log onto their Facebook page Granville Little Theatre

WRAL TV’s Scott Mason to give Keynote Address at Henderson-Vance Chamber Banquet

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce will hold its 79th Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Keynote speaker will be WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler, Scott Mason. As a Road Scholar presenter, this project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The event will take place at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

For sponsorship opportunities, more information or to reserve tickets, contact the Henderson-Vance County Chamber at 252-438-8414 or by emailing info@hendersonvance.org.

Hunter to attend first Board of Education Meeting Tonight

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Clementine Hunter will attend her first meeting as a new member of the Vance County Board of Education on Monday, December 12, in the Vance County Schools’ Administrative Services Center.

Hunter was officially sworn in to office on December 5, by the Honorable Judge Henry Banks, who also administered the oath to Dorothy Gooche and Ed Wilson. Gooche and Wilson were re-elected in November to their seats on the board of education.

Hunter replaces Emeron J. Cash Sr. on the board. Cash chose not to seek re-election in the November 2016 election and is retiring from the board after 24 years of service to Vance County Schools’ students and educators.

A resident of Henderson, Hunter has experience as a teacher assistant and substitute teacher with the Morris School District in New Jersey. She also has worked as a substitute teacher with Vance, Granville and Warren county schools. Her volunteer work in this area includes: Free Clinic Board member; Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS); Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); and participation in local theater.

She has a master’s degree in education and training and is continuing studies in pursuit of a doctorate degree in education.

Hunter says as a board of education member she wants to help maintain and develop quality education through programs of inclusivity, diversity and the challenges of global education readiness for present and future generations of learners in Vance County. She sees her role as a board member as a way to help advance the organization of education while partnering with learners, parents, educators, school staff, business leaders, civic leaders, religious leaders and law enforcement officials.

VGCC offers seminar on starting a new business in the New Year

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The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is offering a free seminar for local residents whose New Year’s resolutions include starting a small business.

“So You Think You Want to Start a Business” is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, from 6 until 9 p.m., in room 7109 (Building 7) on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

The seminar, led by instructor Bob Moore, is designed for individuals who are thinking about starting and operating their own business but wonder if they have the personality, drive, creativity, adaptability, and other talents or attributes that are associated with successful entrepreneurs.

During this seminar, attendees will honestly assess themselves in order to discover their strengths and weaknesses. The seminar will also incorporate various exercises and role-playing activities that illustrate realistic challenges encountered by entrepreneurs. Attendees will be given the opportunity to present their business ideas, and they will be shown various ways to determine if the idea is feasible and viable. After attending this seminar, if an attendee makes the decision to move forward, they will be strongly encouraged to register for seminars offered by the VGCC Small Business Center.

A graduate of Fayetteville State University, Bob Moore is a longtime small business owner and serves as director of the Small Business Center at Robeson Community College in Lumberton. He was honored as the Small Business Center Director of the Year for the entire North Carolina Community College System in 2013.

For more information and to reserve a seat in this free seminar, contact Small Business Center director Tanya Weary at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/small-business-center.

Vance County School Students Enjoy “Beauty and the Beast” at McGregor Hall

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Vance County Schools fourth graders and their teachers enjoyed a wonderful performance of the “Beauty and the Beast” ballet on Monday, December 5.

The performance was held at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

The ballet was performed by the New York City Ballet.

The free performance was provided to the students and teachers by McGregor Hall and the Henderson Community Concert Association.

Fourth-grade students from Granville County Schools also attended. Almost 1,000 students and teachers filled the auditorium.

VGCC Raking Up Awards: Business Administration program ranked among nation’s 25 best values

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The Business Administration program at Vance-Granville Community College recently received recognition as one of the top 25 best values in its field across the United States. VGCC came in at number 22 on the list of the nation’s most affordable online business administration associate degrees published by Texas-based AffordableColleges.com.

The organization, which also recently recognized the VGCC Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education degree programs, ranked community college programs based on how they combined quality with affordability. VGCC was praised not only for its affordable tuition and financial aid options but also for its low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.

At VGCC, students can complete the entire Business Administration degree online through the VOLT (Vanguard Online Learning through Technology) initiative, which is designed primarily with working adults in mind. The college also offers Business Administration courses in the traditional face-to-face format and in hybrid formats that combine online and on-campus instruction.

“We are honored to be recognized as an affordable, accessible, high-quality program that prepares students to be leaders in business,” said Carl Hann, who heads the Business Administration and Accounting programs at VGCC. “Our success is due to our outstanding faculty members who use educational technology in innovative ways.”

The Business Administration curriculum is designed to introduce students to the various aspects of the free enterprise system. Students are provided with a fundamental knowledge of business functions, processes, and an understanding of business organizations in today’s global economy. Course work includes business concepts such as accounting, business law, economics, management and marketing.  Skills related to the application of these concepts are developed through the study of computer applications, communication, team building, and decision making.

In addition to the two-year degree in Business Administration, VGCC offers certificate programs in Business Management and Front Line Management. Eligible high school students can complete the Business Management certificate tuition-free through the “Career & College Promise” program.

Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information about Business Administration, contact Carl Hann at hannc@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3295.

Granville Chamber accepting nominations for John Penn Award

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Recognition Committee announces that the committee is accepting nominations for the 2017 John Penn Citizen of the Year Award.  This prestigious award, named for Granville County’s signer of the Declaration of Independence, is presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Banquet.  The 2017 event will be held Monday, January 30, in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

Chamber members received nomination ballots attached to their issues of the Chamber’s monthly newsletter. Nomination forms may also be obtained at a Chamber office or may be downloaded from the Chamber’s website, www.granville-chamber.com.

This award was designed to recognize a person(s) for outstanding service to the community.  Past recipients are:  Dr. Joseph Colson, Mrs. Robinette Husketh, Hubert Gooch, Rev. G. C. Hawley, Mrs. Gladys Satterwhite, Hugh Currin, Sr., Rev. Harrison Simons, Tom Speed, John Mackie, Dr. Roy Noblin, Dr. David Noel, John K. Nelms, J. J. Medford, Mrs. Mildred A. Jenkins, Tom Johnson, Mrs. Virginia Tuck, L. Clement Yancey, Mrs. Nancy W. Darden, Leonard M. Dunn, Mrs. Carlene Fletcher, Hubert L. Cox, Leonard Peace, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Harold Sherman, Boyce Harvey Paul Kiesow, Ms. Johnsie Cunningham, Stan Fox, Doan and Bette Laursen, Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr., L. C. Adcock, Jim Crawford, Xavier Wortham, Dr. Richard and Julia Ann Taylor and Gary Bowman.

Nominations are due Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

VGCC Work-Based Learning program partners with Wake Public Defender’s office

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Students in the Criminal Justice Technology and Paralegal Technology programs at Vance-Granville Community College recently heard from a guest speaker, who spoke about his work in the justice system and about opportunities to jump-start their own careers while they are still students.

The speaker was Juan C. Bais, chief investigator for the Public Defender’s Office in North Carolina Judicial District 10 (Wake County), who has formed a new partnership with VGCC to offer Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities in his office.

WBL allows a student to gain relevant experience with an employer, while also earning academic credit that counts toward a degree. Many VGCC programs include WBL courses, either as a requirement or as an elective, as in the case of Criminal Justice Technology. WBL plays a role in VGCC’s five-year “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP) called “Advising in 3D: Dream, Design, Discover,” which is focused in part on improved career planning for students.

Bais learned about the program through his fellow investigator in the Public Defender’s Office, Gregory Porterfield, a former VGCC Paralegal Technology student. Both Bais and Porterfield are also former Raleigh Police Department officers. In his current position, Bais said his job is “to get the facts to help the attorneys in the public defender’s office, because when a defendant is appointed an attorney, the attorney may not have all the information they need.”

In order to help handle a large workload on a tight budget, District 10 Public Defender Charles F. Caldwell agreed to allow Bais to recruit a VGCC student to join their team through the WBL program. “It’s a win-win, for us and for the student, who will be getting credit,” Bais said. “I’m looking for a student who’s willing to work hard. I want them to work alongside me, see how it’s done and then do the work under my supervision, so they get real investigative experience that they can put on a resume.”

Bais added, “from what I hear, you are getting great preparation for the workforce at VGCC, and Work-Based Learning is a great opportunity for you.” His general advice to students in the criminal justice field is “to develop people skills, be dedicated and document everything.”

Porterfield also addressed the students, explaining that his office’s mission “is to make sure people are treated fairly, and that innocent people don’t go to jail…You have to be open-minded and not assume guilt or innocence in this line of work. I love to figure things out and put the puzzle pieces together.” He said that students going into law enforcement should always “go the extra mile” and “ask the additional question” so that their work holds up in court.

“Work-Based Learning offers our students work experience that connects directly to their majors,” according to Antoinette Dickens, who coordinates WBL while also heading up the Paralegal Technology program. “A Work-Based Learning experience is not only something that builds a student’s resume and skills, but it also often leads to a job after graduation. There’s nothing like that hands-on experience.”

For more information on Work-Based Learning at VGCC, contact Antoinette Dickens at dickensa@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3609.

Granville Chamber to Host 75th Annual Banquet

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The Granville County Chamber’s Annual Banquet has been scheduled for Monday evening, January 30th, 6:30 pm in Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus Civic Center.

The evening will once again include the presentation of the Chamber’s most prestigious award, the John Penn Citizen of the Year Award, recognizing outstanding community service.  The Chamber’s Board of Directors is requesting that member businesses who are/will celebrate a significant business anniversary in 2017 notify the Chamber to be recognized – 5, 10, + years.

In celebration of 75 years, a very special program has been planned that is patriotic and indicative of the 1940’s when our Chamber was founded.  “Letters from Home – The Patriot” stars Erinn Diaz, America’s Bombshell Patriot.  This is “an exhilarating, energized, patriotic show that will have you singing, dancing, laughing, elbowing the person next to you and just bringing back amazing memories and definitely creating new ones.  Erinn Diaz’ ageless tape dancing, timeless singing and goofy interaction with the audience members will have you ‘hootin’ and a hollerin’ for a long time.’

Banquet sponsors are:  Duke Energy/Presenting Sponsor; BB&T, CertainTeed, Granville Health System, The School of Graphic Arts Print and Design Center and Vanness Chevrolet.

A buffet dinner will be provided. Tickets are $40 each.  Corporate tables of 8, with reserved seating, are available for $300.00.  Corporate tables of 10, reserved seating, are available for $380.00.  Tickets/reservations are required prior to the event.  Checks or credit card payments are accepted by contacting one of the Chamber’s offices –  919.693.6125/Wanda, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919.528.4994/Toni Anne, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.