WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 08-21-25 Noon
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VCSO Maj. William Mitchell Named Director Of State Sheriffs’ Training And Standards Division At N.C. Dept. Of Justice
N.C. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Wednesday that Major William L. Mitchell will serve as the new director of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Training and Standards Division at the Department of Justice. He replaces interim Director Robin Pendergraft, who took on the role after Richard Squires retired earlier this year.
Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame told WIZS News Wednesday afternoon that he wishes Mitchell well in his new position.
“He will be missed. He was a valuable employee to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,” Brame said. His departure will be felt at the sheriff’s office, Brame continued.
“It’s going to be an impact on us,” Brame said, “until we can get somebody in place who’s capable and competent to do what he did. He was an asset to this office.”
The Sheriffs’ Training and Standards Division staffs the Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission, which was established in 1983 and is responsible for the certification of all justice officers, including deputy sheriffs, detention officers, and telecommunicators employed in the North Carolina’s 100 sheriffs’ offices.
“Major Mitchell’s decades of service to the people of North Carolina are a testament to his character and his integrity,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “I’m thrilled that he is taking the helm of the Sheriffs’ Standards Division and leading our work with all 100 sheriffs in North Carolina. His law enforcement experience will help us do everything we can to have the best-trained, most committed public servants in law enforcement.”
“I have been privileged to work alongside some of the best officers and deputies the state of North Carolina has ever produced,” said Major William Mitchell. “As director of the Sheriffs’ Standards Division, I’ll continue to follow the rule that has guided me throughout my law enforcement career: take care, be safe, and look after one another.”
“Major Mitchell is a lifelong public servant whose experiences on the job will inform the work of the Sheriffs’ Commission to ensure our deputies and officers live up to the highest standards of the profession,” said Sheriff Alan Norman, Chair of the Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission. “I congratulate him on the appointment and look forward to working with him.”
Major Mitchell is a Johnston County native who has served in law enforcement for 33 years. He received a degree in criminal justice from Wake Technical Community College and completed basic law enforcement training in 1991. From 1992 to 1994, he served with the Youngsville Police Department. He then served with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office until 2014, where he rose through the ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant over the Narcotics Division, Supervisor in Charge of Multi-Agency Narcotics Units, and then Captain of the Uniform Patrol Division. He began serving with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, initially with the Criminal Investigations Division, then as Sergeant over the Narcotics Unit and then Major of Operations.
Off duty, Major Mitchell also obtained his private investigators license in 2014 and investigates homicide cases for Indigent Defense Services in Raleigh. He is a deacon with the Louisburg Baptist Church and a volunteer with the Louisburg Fire Department.
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Sheriff: Two Arrested On Drug Charges; Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana Seized
— From the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Unit, the SBI and the Henderson Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 20 Brookhaven Place Henderson, NC 27536 after an investigation into heroin trafficking at the residence. Investigators located and seized trafficking amounts of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, two firearms one which was reported stolen, U.S. currency and other items of drug manufacturing equipment from the residence. Nigel Torres, 24 and Damien Alston, 24, were arrested and charged with trafficking heroin (x2), possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for selling controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bond allowed for Torres due to being out on pending charges as well as on active probation. Alston was given a secured bond of $450,000 pending a court hearing in Vance County court.
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Managing Parenthood pt.1
Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
We revisit the whole parenting dynamic and discuss how our actions impact our children.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Maria Parham Health Emergency Department Renovation Complete
— information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer
Maria Parham Health has received a Certificate of Occupancy for its Emergency Department renovation on the Henderson campus, marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality care—especially for patients facing behavioral health challenges in Vance and Franklin counties.
Construction on the renovation began Mar. 17, 2025. The project was designed to better serve vulnerable populations in the region, with particular emphasis on creating dedicated spaces within the Emergency Department to meet the growing need for behavioral and mental health services.
“These renovations reflect our unwavering commitment to improving the way we care for every patient who walks through our doors—especially those navigating mental and behavioral health issues,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the community support and funding that made this project possible, and we look forward to opening these new spaces to better serve our neighbors.”
Key improvements include the creation of dedicated, purpose-built areas within the Emergency Department that promote safety, privacy, and dignity for behavioral health patients. The enhancements are also expected to boost operational efficiency and support staff well-being.
To ensure continuous care during construction, temporary modifications were made to the hospital’s main lobby, which have served as a substitute intake, registration, and emergency care area for patients arriving via personal vehicle. These temporary areas have allowed for uninterrupted triage, waiting, and registration services throughout the renovation period.
With the Certificate of Occupancy now in hand, hospital staff began final preparations on Aug. 20 to bring the renovated Emergency Department online. The space opened to patients at 11 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2025.
The project was made possible by funding secured in October 2023 through a collaborative initiative involving the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina General Assembly. The investment demonstrates a shared regional commitment to strengthening mental health care infrastructure and improving outcomes for patients across the area.
Maria Parham Health will continue to provide renovation updates through its official Facebook page and local media outlets-
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 08-20-25 Noon
Listen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
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Vance County Seeks Applicants To Serve On Opioid Committee
Vance County is looking for individuals interested in serving on its Opioid Committee. The purpose of this committee is to advise the Board of County Commissioners on strategies to address opioid-related impacts in Vance County through the effective use of settlement funds. Its duties include reviewing community needs, identifying evidence-based interventions, encouraging public and municipal input, and promoting intergovernmental collaboration to ensure that funding decisions reflect shared priorities and support long-term solutions.
The Board of County Commissioners is seeking to fill these roles on the committee:
- Individuals with lived experience (maximum of 2 appointments)
- Service Providers (maximum of 2 appointments)
- Community Organizations (maximum of 2 appointments)
Applications may be obtained at www.vancecounty.org or by contacting Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to the Board at kgrissom@vancecounty.org. Please submit completed applications to 122 Young Street, Suite B, Henderson, NC 27536 or kgrissom@vancecounty.org.
Michele Walker Named Granville Chamber Of Commerce Marketing, Administrative Coordinator
Michele Walker has been named as marketing and administrative coordinator for the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.
Walker most recently was the business development manager for Huff Consulting, LLC and brings experience in business development, marketing and community engagement to the role with the Chamber.
She has served on the Salvation Army Board, chaired the Business Advisory Council for Vance County Schools, and is a graduate of Leadership Vance. She is also the lead organizer of the annual Community Resource Festival, helping connect residents with essential services and programs, and has served as an ambassador for both the Granville County and Henderson-Vance Chambers of Commerce.
“Michele’s expertise and passion for building relationships will be a tremendous asset to our members and the local business community,” said Jennifer Cufalo, Executive Director of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, contact the Granville County Chamber of Commerce at 919.693.6125 or email jennifer@granville-chamber.com or michele@granville-chamber.com.
State Board Of Elections Registration Repair Project Underway To Update Voter Info
The first wave of mailings is now going out to North Carolina voters who need to provide their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number as part of the State Board of Elections “Registration Repair Project.”
The SSBE is sending letters to about 82,700 individuals whose voter registration records lack one of these numbers, as required by state and federal laws.
According to the SBE database, which is updated daily, Vance County has 451 voters who need to provide the additional information to keep their voter registration current. Granville County has 384, Warren County has 133 and Franklin County has 649.
Individuals who receive the letter requesting the additional information can provide their driver license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number either by completing and returning the form at the bottom of the letter and returning it in the mail, in person at their local Board of Elections office or online through the NCDMV secure website at to payments.ncdot.gov.
There is no cost to make the registration update using the NCDMV website.
Updating the voter registration may not be done by phone.
“It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s free,” said Sam Hayes, State Board executive director. “We strongly encourage all voters on the Registration Repair list to take action now and avoid any issues the next time they show up to vote.”
North Carolinians can search whether they are on the list via the Registration Repair Search Tool, which is updated daily.
The Registration Repair Project launched on July 17, and already, the registrations of more than 20,000 voters have been fixed through a combination of research by the county boards of elections and the response of individual voters to update their registration records. As of Monday, Aug. 18, 82,540 registrants remained on the repair list, down 20 percent from 103,270 on the original list.
In future elections, in-person voters who still have not provided the required information to update their registration must vote provisional ballots and provide the information when they vote. That process is easy — the application for voting a provisional ballot includes prompts for DL# or SSN4.
The State Board is creating a flag to appear on these voters’ records in the electronic or paper poll books used at voting sites to alert poll workers that these voters must vote provisional ballots and provide the missing information for their ballot to count. Once a voter provides their DL# or SSN4 and that number is validated, the provisional ballot will count. County boards of elections will train poll workers accordingly.
For more information, go to ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair.
The Local Skinny! Growth and Excitement at Perry Memorial Library
Perry Memorial Library is all the things a library should be – it’s inviting and chock full of books and other reading materials for patrons to enjoy. But Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters is someone who likes to be in “the mix,” as she put it, so whenever she’s able to, she likes to be out and about – bringing the library and its services into the community.
“You have to go out to get people to come in,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
With another successful summer program under their belts, the library staff is gearing up for the fall, but there’s a bit of a breather that has allowed Peters to do some outreach activities, most recently with The Salvation Army and AIM High.
And on Saturday, you’ll most likely find her at the Way to Grow Fest in downtown Henderson.
“This is happening in our backyard – we have to be there,” Peters said.
Stop by the library’s table on Saturday and enjoy a bracelet craft activity as you learn more about the various programs the library offers.
Then stop by the library on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome to library’s fancy new Bookmobile.
“This is big news – this is huge!” Peters exclaimed.
A Greensboro-based company designed and outfitted the bookmobile’s interior. It’s got a ramp and all the bells and whistles, she said.
“People are going to love it! It opens up a whole new level of outreach,” Peters said.
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