Oct. 14 Homecoming Challenge To Raise Money For VCPS Foundation

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Whether your mascot was a Bulldog, a Viking or a Raider, if you graduated from a high school in Vance County, you’ll all be supporting the Vipers during the Alumni Homecoming Challenge.

But rest assured, there will be opportunities for a little rivalry among alumni during the annual Homecoming game, which kicks off Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in Viper Stadium, 925 Garrett Rd.

The Vipers take on Granville Central High School, and Vance County Schools’ Director of Communication & Marketing Aarika Sandlin said there will be a special way for alumni to support the school district.

Graduates of Henderson High School, Vance Senior High, Northern Vance, Southern Vance, Vance County Early College, Advance Academy, Henderson Institute, Vance Virtual Village Academy or Vance County High can drop their loose change – or better yet, folding money – into their alma mater’s jar.

A locker plate will be installed at the Center for Innovation to recognize the alumni of each school for each $100 it raises.

The Vance County Public School Foundation is sponsoring the fundraiser.

 

Warrenton Sports Bar Loses ABC Permits Following ALE Investigation

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A Warren County establishment has had its ABC permits rejected as a result of a range of incidents occurring there, from disorderly conduct and property damage to assaults and shootings.

Roxies Sports Bar and Lounge, located at 109 South Hall St. in Warrenton had received a temporary ABC permit in 2020, but that permit was revoked following a recent ALE investigation.

According to a press statement from the NC Department of Public Safety, the sports bar “has been a drain on emergency personnel,” who most recently responded to the bar on Sept. 25. At that time, “a physical altercations between patrons occurred inside the business and was pushed out into the parking lot by security personnel. Shortly after, gunshots were heard near the entrance, and two patrons sustained gunshot injuries.,” the press statement reported.

Any time there are a high number of 9-1-1 calls and violence associated with an ABC-permitted business, ALE special agents conduct an investigation, document any criminal or regulatory violations, and submit a report to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The ABC Commission then reviews the investigative report and determines if the ABC permits are to be suspended, revoked, cancelled or issued a fine.

 

Windy, Rainy Hurricane Ian Largely Spared Vance County Area

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Residents in Vance County and the surrounding area may be picking up scattered branches and limbs from Friday’s storm, but overall damage was limited to downed trees and minimal property damage. Crews spent Friday evening and Saturday restoring power to customers who lost electricity in the pouring rain and driving wind. On Saturday, 7,028 customers were without power in Vance County.

But all in all, Hurricane Ian could have left a much worse path of destruction as it blew through this part of the state.

Emergency Management Services Director Brian Short said there were more than 30 reports of trees down in the area, as well as numerous alarms, fire alarms, traffic accidents and electrical-related calls, Short said, but no major injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the storm.

“All of our public safety agencies worked well together throughout the storm as they always do. Our 911 telecommunicators worked very hard answering your calls for help and coordinating our field response personnel,” Short said. “Fire and rescue crews worked tirelessly responding to trees down, keeping roadways clear and responding to fire-related alarms and other calls. Our EMS crews responded to numerous accidents and medical related incidents and our law enforcement officers patrolled areas without power, and responded to numerous alarms and traffic accidents,” Short reported.

Thankfully, the area saw mostly just rain and wind, which gusted up to the 35-37 mph range and the rainfall measured at the emergency operations center was 1.81 inches.

A wind gust of 39 mph was recorded at the emergency operations center in downtown Henderson, Short said in a written statement. And three inches of rain was the highest amount recorded in the county.

At the height of the storm, more than half a million customers were without power in the Carolinas, and Duke Energy had 10,000 crew members out working to get the power back on. As of 11 a.m. today, there were just under 100 households in North Carolina still waiting to get power restored.

Ian had departed the area by Saturday, and the cleanup and recovery process could be undertaken in earnest, Short said in a report issued over the weekend.

“The most intense weather did not arrive until around 5 p.m. Gusty winds and heavy rains caused downed trees and power outages as well as localized flash flooding, as predicted,” Short said. The highest wind gust recorded at the County Emergency Operations Center was 39 mph. Our data matches that captured by the National Weather Service as well,” he noted.

Over 1,000 Dosage Units of Heroin Nets Suspect a $355,000 Bond and a Trip to Jail

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— HPD Press Release Information — 

On September 30, 2022 officers of the Henderson Police Department served a narcotic search warrant at 1141 Booker St. Henderson, North Carolina in response to a drug complaint.

During the service of the warrant, approximately 1,088 dosage units of heroin, 537 grams of marijuana, drug manufacturing equipment, US currency, and two semi-automatic pistols were seized. One of the pistols was reported stolen from Wake County.

36-year-old Cornelius Vandergrift was arrested in relation to this investigation.

Vandergrift was charged with two counts of Trafficking Heroin, one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Marijuana, Felony Possession of Marijuana, one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Simple Possession of Schedule II, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, one count of Maintaining a Dwelling Place for a Controlled Substance and two counts of Possession of Firearm by Felon.

Vandergrift received a $355,000.00 secured bond and was remanded to Vance County Detention by the magistrate.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville School Board Selects Helen Lindsey To Fill Vacant Seat

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A retired schools employee has been appointed to fill the unexpired term on the Granville County Board of Education.

Dr. Helen Lindsey was selected from a field of five candidates interviewed Thursday for the seat made vacant when Dr. Tom Houlihan tendered his resignation effective July 31.

Following the interviews, the board discussed the candidates before casting their votes.

“This was a very difficult process in that all of the applicants brought their own unique strengths and experiences,” said Board Chair Glenda Williams. “One thing they all had in common was their willingness to serve, and we are grateful to each of them for investing their time and effort in this process,” Williams added.

Dr. Lindsey will be sworn in at the next regularly scheduled meeting, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 3.

The agendas, minutes and video recordings for board meetings may be found at

https://www.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsf

 

Warren Offers Smart Start Basketball Class For Youngsters Ages 4-5

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The Warren County Parks and Recreation is offering a new basketball program for 4- and 5-year olds call Smart Start Basketball. The program is a parent/child instructional program led by an instructor weekly for six weeks at the John Graham Gym.

The fee is $10 and includes a basketball for each child.

Register between Oct. 3 and Nov. 3 online at https://www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation or in person at the parks and recreation office Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The office is located at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton.

Two sessions will offered on Saturdays, Nov. 5-Dec. 17. The first class begins at 10 a.m. and the second class begins at 11 a.m.

Space is limited for each class, so register soon.

For more information, call 252.257.2272.

 

Warren Winter Youth Basketball League Registration Opens Oct. 3

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Registration for Winter Youth Basketball with Warren County Parks and Recreation begins Monday, Oct. 3 and runs through Thursday, Nov. 3. The winter youth league is for youth between 6-17 years. The registration fee is $10.

Registration can be completed online at  https://www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation or in person between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the parks and recreation office, located at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton.

Visit the website for more information or call the office at 252.257.2272.

Warren County Parks and Recreation is also seeking volunteer coaches for youth basketball season. Please submit volunteer application and complete an online background check at www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation.

Not Rain, Not Wind…RHI Fundraiser a Success

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The fall barbecue chicken fundraiser was Friday.

All indications are it was a complete sell out.

Served were chicken halves, potatoes, string beans, bread and dessert for $8 per plate.

Rebuilding Hope Director Randolph Wilson reached out to WIZS Friday morning for radio announcements saying, “Our fundraiser is still on and we have drive thru pickup in the warehouse out of the rain.”

By 4:45 p.m. Friday, only 30 plates remained according to Wilson.

Here at WIZS we all enjoyed our plates and many happy people reached out about how delicious it was, including on social media.

Water Outage Along and Near 158 Bypass

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A transmission line failed Friday morning, and crews were quickly on site.

The initial determination was the areas involved were “158 Bypass from Calvary Church to Poplar Creek Road, Huntstone Subdivision, West Hills Subdivision, and VGCC,” said William Bailey, street maintenance supervisor for the City of Henderson Public Works Department.

As of 2:30 p.m. Friday, water had been restored to VGCC and Huntstone Subdivision.

Bailey told WIZS Friday afternoon, crews anticipated “being able to turn water on this evening (Friday) around midnight.”

The City had a 24-inch transmission line that failed. Several areas experience no water or low water pressure.

Even though most of the areas described are not within the City limits, they receive City water service in a lot of cases because they are in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).