Text or Email closings or announcements to 252-432-0774 or johncharles@wizs.com or call 252-492-3001
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Update 4:45 p.m. Monday
City of Henderson Offices delayed until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10
City of Oxford Offices delayed until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10
Community Workforce Solutions of Henderson closed on Tuesday, January 10
Crosscreek Charter School closed on Tuesday, January 10
Crossroads Christian School closed on Tuesday, January 10
Davita Dialysis of Louisburg delayed until 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10
Davita Dialysis of Vance County delayed 3 hours on Tuesday, January 10
Durham Public Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Falls Lake Academy closed on Tuesday, January 10
Families Living Violence Free in Oxford, NC office will be closed today, Monday January 9, 2017. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you need help, please call our 24/7 crisis line 919-693-5700.
Franklin County District Court closed on Tuesday, January 10
Franklin County Government Offices closed on Tuesday, January 10
Franklin County Superior Court closed on Tuesday, January 10
Franklin County Government Offices closed on Tuesday, January 10
Franklin County Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Granville County Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Henderson Collegiate closed on Tuesday, January 10
Henderson Family YMCA closed on Monday, January 9
Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks department – modified operating hours for Monday, January 9. The Aycock Rec Center is open until 6:00 p.m. The pool is closed.
Kerr-Vance Academy closed on Tuesday, January 10
Louisburg College Check-in for new students starts at noon Tuesday. Returning students check in between 9-3 Wednesday. Classes begin Thursday.
Oxford Preparatory School closed on Tuesday, January 10
Person County Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Roxboro Community School closed on Tuesday, January 10
The District Attorney’s offices in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties will open at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10
Vance County Government Offices delayed until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10
Vance Charter School closed on Tuesday, January 10
Vance County Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Vance-Granville Community College evening classes cancelled on Monday, January 9
Vance-Granville Community College closed on Tuesday, January 10
Victory Christian School closed on Tuesday, January 10
Wake County Public Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
Wake Technical Community College closed on Tuesday, January 10
Warren County Schools closed on Tuesday, January 10
00WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-01-06 13:16:552017-01-20 02:37:23All VGCC Campuses to close at 3:00 p.m. Today
VGCC graduates 14 cadets in school’s 103rd BLET Class
Fourteen cadets graduated on Dec. 13 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College, in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.
Graduates of VGCC’s 103rd BLET class included Heather Jocqueline Cruz of the Franklinton Police Department; Justin Lamar Dailey and Shauna Demetrius Terry, both of the Henderson Police Department; Emmett Avory Smith of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation; André McCoy Oakley, Cedrick Shawn Peace II and Vicky Victor Philip, all of the Oxford Police Department; Kenneth William Fitzsimmons, Jr., of the Roxboro Police Department; James Brett Aiken, Erik Jamaal Sheftal and Tyrone Terry, all of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; Antonio Tyrelle Seward of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office; Christopher Lee Oakley and Jennifer Christine Watson.
The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by students from the ROTC program at Northern Vance High School, and the singing of the national anthem by NVHS student Jaylen Webb.
In welcoming remarks, Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs, thanked the many leaders from local and state law enforcement agencies in attendance for partnering with the college. “Your support for the BLET program is invaluable,” Ballentine told the law enforcement representatives. “You sponsor our cadets, hire our graduates, provide many of our instructors, and give us feedback and advice. This successful partnership between VGCC and our community improves the safety and quality of life of our region.” She congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous, 667-hour training program and encouraged them to continue their education. “I wish you every success as you protect and serve all of us,” Ballentine added.
Speaking as leader of the class, Cadet Cedrick Peace thanked the many instructors who had trained them, as well as the family members and friends who were there to support the graduates. “Today, we leave the classroom, and tomorrow, we enter our communities, our neighborhoods and our streets,” Peace said to his classmates. “I thank you for choosing to serve others.” He said that the cadets had become like a family. “Family means not letting each other give up when things get hard,” Peace said. “With this profession, you will have many brothers and sisters who will pick you back up when you’re down.”
Graduates selected Sgt. Richard Creech of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, one of their physical training, or “P.T.,” instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. “You wondered why I pushed you so hard in during P.T. workouts,” he said to the class. “It builds character and discipline, but most importantly, it teaches us not to give up, no matter how tired we get. Out on the streets, we don’t have the luxury of giving up. We will not give up, and we will go home at the end of our shift.”
Creech also reminded the graduating cadets to “treat everyone like you’d want your mother to be treated” and to become leaders in their agencies. “You can and you will make a difference,” he told the class. “I appreciate you all taking the challenge of law enforcement.”
Andrea Ferguson, the program coordinator, and instructor Glen Boyd presented awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Fitzsimmons won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in firearms qualification. Peace earned the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo during physical training. Smith took home the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the written tests each cadet must pass.
For more information on the BLET program, contact Ferguson at fergusona@vgcc.edu.
–VGCC Press Release–
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/VGCC-BLET-2016-cover.jpg280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2017-01-03 14:35:532017-01-20 02:57:12VGCC graduates 14 cadets in school’s 103rd BLET Class
Longtime Vance-Granville Community College faculty member Jacquelin Heath was recently honored with the Cardinal Award from North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory as she prepared to retire. The award was presented to her by the president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, at a holiday social held Dec. 15, at which Heath and other recent retirees were recognized.
A resident of Henderson, Heath is retiring on Dec. 31 with a longer tenure than any retiree in the history of the college: 40 years and three months. She has served for most of those years as head of the School-Age Education program.
The Cardinal Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes individuals who have contributed at least 30 years of exemplary public service to the state of North Carolina.
“Many recognitions may come in life, but one from the state of North Carolina stands as one of the highlights,” Heath said. “The Cardinal Award was a wonderful surprise. During my employment, I didn’t think about who would get the credit. I just wanted to get the job done.”
She added that receiving this award in front of her colleagues made it even more meaningful. “I am grateful for many things in life, but most blessed by being a member of the Vance-Granville Community College family,” Heath said.
Heath joined the faculty at VGCC on Sept. 15, 1976, when the college’s Main Campus was brand-new, and the institution had only recently made the transition from a technical institute to a comprehensive community college. In her four decades at VGCC, she has served with all six of the college’s presidents.
“The Cardinal Award is a fitting tribute to Jackie’s devotion to VGCC and to education,” said Dr. Williams. “Not only has she directly educated, inspired and supported countless students who went on to successful careers in public schools and other organizations, but she has also been a champion of community involvement that connects VGCC to other educational institutions and local partners.”
Heath served as the advisor for the Student North Carolina Association of Educators at VGCC for 31 years, which she founded as the first community college chapter in the state; as a long-time member of the National Education Association; as a member of the board of directors for the Tar Heel branch of the American Association of University Women and of the national AAUW; and as a member of the Henderson-Vance County Human Relations Commission for nine years. She has presented at the annual conference of the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs; been a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Nu Chi Omega Chapter with 27 consecutive years of membership; served as co-chair of VGCC’s Faculty and Staff Drive for its Endowment Fund; served with Head Start, the United Way of Vance County and Spring Street Baptist Church; and volunteered with community partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford to strengthen local efforts to educate children.
During the holiday social, VGCC Education Department Chair Tracey Bennett Carter also announced that the college’s Arts & Sciences division had made a contribution to the Vance County unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs in her honor.
Heath earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1974 from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and her Master of Science in Education with a Concentration in Early Childhood Education from N.C. A&T in 1975. She also completed additional graduate studies at North Carolina Central University in 1982.
Heath has been awarded the Director’s Award of Achievement by the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs, which recognized her for accomplishments including the implementation of “Upping Your Afterschool Game,” a training program. Her School-Age Education program was honored multiple times as a “Friend of Education” by Vance County Schools for its work placing students in local schools for internships. Under her leadership, Vance-Granville’s chapter of Student North Carolina Association of Educators was given the Membership Growth Award for its efforts to build the organization. Heath has been published twice in the National Education Association’s national magazine. She has also been named VGCC’s instructor of the year for the Division of Arts & Sciences.
On Sunday, December 11th, 2016 at 9:35 pm an unknown black male subject wearing a white mask, white gloves , a light colored hooded jacket with black on front, light colored blue jeans, white sneakers, and a black back pack unlawfully went upon private property of Dollar General located in the Wilton community at 2500 Highway 96 South, Franklinton, NC. The suspect criminally vanished a handgun black in color at the clerk on duty and demanded money and the cash register drawer. The suspect placed the cash drawer with money inside his back pack and fled on foot.
If you have information concerning this incident, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers 919-693-3100.
THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENT OF A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST/INDICTMENT(S) OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CRIME OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CRIME(S) IN GRANVILLE COUNTY. YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS IN OXFORD AT 919-693-3100.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20201444z7BNWEVJ.png280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2016-12-20 14:19:312017-01-20 02:39:20Granville County Crime Stoppers looking for robbery suspect
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center will present a free workshop, called “Sales & Use Tax 101,” on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 2-4 p.m. in room F1208 at the college’s Franklin County Campus, located just outside Louisburg.
In this hands-on workshop, Rhonda High of the N.C. Department of Revenue will help small business owners understand the basics of sales and use taxes, including registering for a sales and use tax account and learning about the most common types of sales and use taxes collected. High will also discuss the proper procedures for filing a sales and use tax return.
At the end of the workshop, there will be a question and answer session with the presenter, as well as opportunities to network with other business owners.
00WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2016-12-20 12:26:392017-01-20 02:37:24Free small business tax workshop scheduled at VGCC Franklin Campus
A special setting of Vance County Criminal Superior Court was held Monday, December 19, 2016. The Honorable Robert H. Hobgood Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties presided for the term. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey and Onica F. Fuller. The single matter scheduled for hearing was the sentencing of Daquan Keith Foster.
Defendant Daquan Foster was convicted of First Degree Rape on December 4, 2015, before the same judge. The sentencing was continued to allow his attorney, E.N. Bagshawe of Warrenton to put forward evidence in mitigation.
Daquan Foster was sentenced to 239 to 347 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction for a 2013 rape in the City of Henderson. Officers with the Henderson Police Department investigated the case after a citizen reported that the victim came out of the woods reporting that she had been sexually assaulted. Strong police work resulted in an eyewitness identification by the victim and the collection of DNA evidence, both of which were presented by the State during Foster’s trial. It took jurors less than an hour to return a verdict of guilty of First Degree Rape against Foster. The jury also heard evidence concerning aggravating factors that were put forth by the State in an effort to increase Foster’s sentence. Jurors took less than five minutes to decide that the State had proven the aggravating factors based on the victim’s mental and physical infirmities and that she was handicapped. This case was investigated and prepared for trial by Detective Brandon Logue, Detective Jessica West, and patrol officers with the Henderson Police Department.
It’s through the hard work of the Henderson Police Department and their collaboration with our office that convictions like this are made possible. Our office would like to acknowledge the victim for her willingness to participate in this prosecution. Without her courage and the hard work of law enforcement, this would not have been possible.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/office-of-DA-mike-waters.png280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2016-12-20 10:12:192017-01-20 02:57:12Daquan Foster sentenced in local Rape Case
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is offering a free seminar, entitled “Hit the Ground Running in 2017,” on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at CenturyLink in Wake Forest.
Mike McConchie of Creedmoor will serve as the instructor. The owner of M&M Consultants, Inc., McConchie is a Certified Business Coach and a Senior Business Consultant. He has over 36 years of retail management experience and is the past president of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.
According to McConchie, the seminar will help small business owners “create their own destiny for 2017.” Among his topics will be “how to set up your business for success, establish and clarify your 2017 goals, and establish a plan of attack.” He added that attendees would “learn how to identify gaps in performance and results and develop a plan to close the gaps and achieve your goals.”
In addition to CenturyLink, the seminar is presented by VGCC in partnership with the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin County Economic Development Commission, and North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation.
Lunch will be provided at no charge to attendees who register in advance. To reserve a seat, contact Lori Duke at lduke@franklincountync.us or 919-554-1863. The deadline to RSVP is Jan. 6, 2017.
00WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2016-12-20 09:18:052017-01-20 02:37:24VGCC presents free seminar to help small businesses “hit the ground running”