Sossamon Announces Bid For District 32 House Seat In 2026

/by

Frank Sossamon has announced that he will run again in 2026 for the District 32 seat in the N.C. House of Representatives.

In a press release dated Aug. 27, Sossamon said, “I have been serving in this community as a pastor, job creator, grief counselor and volunteer for over four decades. My life is about direct service to our community and I look forward to returning to Raleigh and representing the true voice of District 32.”

Sossamon said he is running to reclaim House District 32 to bring a true voice of Vance and Granville counties back to Raleigh. Initially elected in 2022, Sossamon served one term and was beaten in the 2024 election by Granville County’s Bryan Cohn. He has listed several priorities in the upcoming campaign, which include protecting Medicaid for the most vulnerable, fully funding classrooms, safeguarding agriculture and more access to mental health services.

During his first term, the press release stated that he brought a record $45 million to Vance and Granville counties in appropriations for economic development, infrastructure and property beautification. He also voted to increase Medicaid which has improved healthcare access to rural communities.

Sossamon served on the Appropriations on Education K-12 Committee, as well as the Appropriations, Commerce, and Transportation committees. After leaving the House, Sossamon continued his service to District 32 leading the “Faith in Mental Health” initiative, a groundbreaking pilot program for Vance and Granville counties, and sits on Vance County’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council where he has served for 40 years.

TownTalk: Make a Joyful Noise ACTS Benefit Concert Coming Up Oct. 11

/by

The ‘Make A Joyful Noise Unto The Lord’ concert to benefit ACTS is coming up quickly, and Executive Director Thomas Blackwell is looking forward to the Oct. 11 performance at McGregor Hall. Blackwell has been in the role since January, and this will be the first chance he’s had to attend.

So far, local performers like Evelyn Couch, Eric Hargrove and praise teams from Harriet Baptist Church and Clearview Church are among those taking the stage over the course of the concert, which begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Children 12 and under get in free.

Sponsorships are available and there’s still time to sign up to perform, Blackwell said on Monday’s TownTalk. The deadline for both is Oct. 6.

And while the concert will be a feast for the ears, Blackwell said it’s a way to support the mission of ACTS to feed people – and not just with food.

“We want to feed people spiritually, not just bodily,” he said.

ACTS continues to provide hot meals at lunchtime, but since the COVID pandemic, those meals have been served outside.

He estimates that ACTS is serving between 200 and 300 plates a day, but some of those are take-home plates, so the number of individuals is lower than that figure.

“There are a lot of people who just need a little help,” Blackwell said, quoting statistics that state there are close to 4,000 children in Henderson alone who are food-insecure.

Blackwell said volunteers, as well as the cook, are working to put a plan together to return to providing meals indoors for those who rely on hot lunches at ACTS.

“We really want to bring people back inside, to build relationships,” he said. “We want Gospel opportunities in all that we do.”

Blackwell said he sees the mission of ACTS as part of The Great Commission, taking Jesus’s message to the corners of the world. Henderson is one of those corners, too, and the work of ACTS is a way to fulfill that mission close to home.

People “need hope, dignity, compassion,” he said, “someone to point them to Jesus.”

Follow ACTS on Facebook, where Blackwell keeps an updated list of particular needs for food donations and more. With school back in session, for example, the Backpack Buddies program is up and running, so there’s a need for single-serve food items for students to take home on weekends.

Contact Blackwell at ACTS 252.492.8231 or via email at tdblackwell@actsofhenderson.org

CLICK PLAY!

Operation Resilience – A Coordinated Enforcement Operation in Henderson

/by

Press Conference Audio

***************
Update 9-20-25 at 10 a.m.

With the Henderson Police Station as a backdrop, representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies announced Friday the arrests of five individuals on federal charges ranging from drugs violations to possession of firearms.

Operation Resilience cast a wide net over the course of the past couple of days, and District Attorney Mike Waters commended all those gathered for the press conference on Friday afternoon.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Ellis Boyle echoed the sentiments, highlighting the work of the ATF. “You made the evidence, you gave us the cases and we are committed to prosecuting them in federal court,” Boyle said during remarks at the press conference.

According to information provided by the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the following individuals were charged as a result of Operation Resilience:

  • Qwmaine Raekwon Knott of Henderson, 29, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
  • Andre Khan of Henderson, 30, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.
  • Terrance Hargrove of Henderson, 47, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.
  • Keith Bagley of Oxford, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
  • Shamar Evans of Oxford, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 35 years in prison.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow said, “This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among law enforcement agencies with diverse areas of expertise. Extensive preparation was devoted to its planning and execution, and the success achieved reflects the strength of federal, state, and local agencies working in unison. As the Chief of Henderson, I am proud of our relationship with each of these agencies and look forward to more proactive projects in the near future.”

Barrow provided a comprehensive list of arrests and charges to WIZS News following the press conference. Not included in the information below, however is information from the N.C. State Highway Patrol or the Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. Barrow said he expects to have that information soon.

Arrests and Charges

– Felony Arrests: 8 individuals arrested on 26 charges
– Misdemeanor Arrests: 9 individuals arrested on 14 charges
– Charges from Citations: 24

Federal Indictments

– Subjects Taken into Custody: 5 detainees on 10 charges

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

Probation/Parole Enforcement

– Felony Absconders: 3 arrests
– Misdemeanor Absconders: 2 arrests
– Felony Probation Violations: 5 arrests
– Misdemeanor Probation Violations: 1 arrest

Seizures and Evidence

– Search Warrants Obtained and Served: 4
– Firearms Seized: 4 with 1 being stolen
– Controlled Substances Seized:
– Cocaine: 159.45 grams
– Heroin: 100 dosage units
– Marijuana: 62 grams
– MDMA: 3 grams
– Methamphetamine: 2 grams

Henderson Police Capt. Ferguson said the operation – a month or more in the making – was the result of the police department and Adult Corrections putting together a list of absconders from parole and repeat offenders.

N.C. Secretary for the Department of Adult Correction Leslie Dismukes said 29 probation officers participated in the operation, which netted the arrest of five absconders and eight others for a total of 19 felony charges, six misdemeanor charges and confiscation of two firearms.

“Safe communities is the number one priority of Adult Corrections,” Dismukes said during the press conference. Dismukes also thanked Vance County District Attorney’s Office for the partnership of the department’s ongoing efforts to reduce crime and ensure compliance among those it supervises.

The primary objective of the operation was to perform warrantless searches of supervised offenders and their residences while apprehending individuals with active arrest warrants related to probation or post-release supervision violations.

The searches were conducted Thursday, Sept. 18 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Participating in the operation were probation officers from the N.C. Dept. of Adult Correction, officers from Henderson Police Department, deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,  federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), state agents from N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) and N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and troopers from the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Prosecutions are being handled by the Vance County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

***************
Click Play for 9-22-25 TownTalk Update!

***************
Update 9-19-25 at 3:51 p.m. courtesy of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of NC Ellis Boyle
Five Defendants Charged Federally, More Than 30 State Warrants Executed in Henderson Crime Suppression Effort

 

Today, U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with federal and local law enforcement, announced that five individuals have been charged in separate federal cases as part of a coordinated enforcement operation. In addition to the federal charges, more than 30 state warrants were executed in the Henderson area. The operation targeted violent offenders, drug traffickers, and absconders, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to protecting communities destabilized by violent crime and drug activity.

“These charges and arrests show that law enforcement will not stand idly by while violent offenders and absconders fuel instability in Henderson,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This surge reflects the strength of our local, state, and federal partnerships, and we remain committed to supporting Henderson and Vance County in this united fight against crime. If you commit a federal crime, you can expect to spend a lot of prison time.”

“The FBI is committing resources to support our law enforcement partners across North Carolina every day. The FBI Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force is honored to have assisted the Henderson Police Department in this important fugitive roundup. When we work together to address and mitigate violent crime, the American people win and the Justice system can take the next step to hold offenders convicted in court, accountable,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

“Enforcement operations like this demonstrate the importance of collaboration,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Through partnerships and a commitment to public safety, we’re finding and apprehending those individuals that pose the greatest threats to our communities.”

“Violent offenders threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods, and this operation shows the strength of coordinated law enforcement at every level,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., of the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure fugitives are apprehended and communities across Henderson and Vance County are safer as a result of these efforts.”

“This operation is a result of planning, intelligence sharing, and collaboration. It sends a clear message that criminal activity has no place in our neighborhoods, and we will use every resource available to uphold the safety and integrity of our communities,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “But our work does not stop with arrests, it continues with prevention, community outreach, and making sure that our enforcement efforts are matched by support for the families and neighborhoods most affected by crime.”

“On behalf of the SBI and our hard-working agents, we are extremely proud to join forces with our local, state, and federal partners to arrest probationers and absconders in Vance County to reduce crime and keep citizens safe. We are committed to assisting our sheriffs, chiefs, and U.S. Attorneys with the ongoing effort to get drugs off the street and put violent offenders in jail. Without the strong partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, the success of this type of operation would not be possible,” said the North Carolina SBI Director Chip Hawley.

“Successful collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners is essential to strengthening our communities and making North Carolina safer for everyone,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “I’m grateful for the strong relationships we’ve built that make operations like this possible.”

“This operation is an excellent example of how effective law enforcement collaboration can be in improving safety in our communities,” said Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary for the Department of Adult Correction. “I’d like to thank all our law enforcement and prosecution partners for their ongoing assistance to reduce crime and ensure compliance among those we supervise.”

“This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among law enforcement agencies with diverse areas of expertise. Extensive preparation was devoted to its planning and execution, and the success achieved reflects the strength of federal, state, and local agencies working in unison. As the Chief of Henderson, I am proud of our relationship with each of these agencies and look forward to more proactive projects in the near future,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Participating agencies included the FBI, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina SBI, the North Carolina ALE, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, District Attorney Mike Waters, the Henderson Police Department, the Oxford Police Department, and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement divided the effort into three arrest teams and three search teams, conducting approximately 30 absconder warrant services and 40 warrantless searches. Together, the teams executed coordinated arrests and searches aimed at reducing violent crime and holding fugitives accountable. According to court documents, the following five individuals, all from the Henderson area, were arrested on federal charges as part of the recent enforcement effort:

• Qwmaine Raekwon Knott of Henderson, 29, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

• Andre Khan of Henderson, 30, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.

• Terrance Hargrove of Henderson, 47, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.

• Keith Bagley of Oxford, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

• Shamar Evans of Oxford, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 35 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser, Jaren Kelly, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Becker are prosecuting the cases.

These federal cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A copy of this press release is located on our website.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Harvesting & Preserving Herbs

/by

Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Herbs can easily be preserved by freezing.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

Granville County Crime Stoppers Establishes Scholarship For VGCC Criminal Justice Students

/by

–       Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation (VGCCF) is proud to announce the establishment of a new academic achievement scholarship for Criminal Justice students, made possible by a generous $10,000 donation from Granville County Crime Stoppers.

The newly created Granville County Crime Stoppers Criminal Justice Academic Achievement Scholarship will support and encourage students pursuing careers in criminal justice. This contribution reflects Crime Stoppers’ ongoing commitment to crime prevention and community development through education.

“We are deeply grateful to Granville County Crime Stoppers for investing in the future of our students and our community,” said VGCC Foundation Executive Director Tanya Weary. “This scholarship will help remove financial barriers and empower students who are passionate about making a positive impact through criminal justice.”

The scholarship is available to qualified students currently enrolled in VGCC’s Criminal Justice Technology program who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to public service. Interested students may apply now at vgcc.academicworks.com.

 

Granville County Crime Stoppers continues to be a vital partner in making our community a safer place to live and work. This scholarship further strengthens their mission by supporting the next generation of criminal justice professionals.

 

For more information about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252.738.3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu.

ReplyForward

TownTalk: ‘Faith In Mental Health’ Partnership Off To A Strong Start; 2 Meetings Added

/by

The Faith in Mental Health certificate program has gotten off to a strong start, with more than 100 people representing about 30 churches taking part in the initial program in June. Organizers are expanding this pilot phase in Vance and Granville counties and welcome others to join at upcoming meetings, one in Vance and one in Granville.

The Vance County meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Henderson. The Granville County meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Butner.

Local pastor Frank Sossamon, in partnership with Granville Vance Public Health, Vaya Health and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Mental Health, introduced the idea to his colleagues in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Sossamon and GVPH’s Karl Johnson, PhD, talked about how the Faith in Mental Health program works to help church communities be a bridge to services and to resources for members of the congregations and for the larger community.

“It’s a mechanism for churches to become more knowledgeable about resources,” Sossamon said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Services are available, he said, but if you don’t know how to access those services, they’re of no help to someone struggling with mental health issues.

“We have already gotten some positive response back,” Sossamon said of the first training session held in June.

They decided to add more sessions to allow even more churches to get involved. “Every church can be involved and should be involved,” he added.

Johnson is on the faculty of UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, but he said he spends a good bit of time as part of the GVPH staff. He said he helps connects both work sites – things happening at the university and things happening on the ground in Vance and Granville counties.

Those connections include financial resources and networks of professionals who can support the kind of work the Faith in Mental Health program does.

“It’s exciting to work with Pastor frank Sossamon,” Johnson said, as well as Vaya and the professionals at the state level to be able to tailor programs to meet the diverse needs of churches.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all program,” he said. Program organizers work with churches to help them identify the topics that best suit their needs, whether it’s addiction, depression, anxiety, the mental health of the elderly, among others.

This set up “gives churches a lot of agency in pursuing the kinds of activities that they think will better equip their congregations and community,” Johnson said.

The program is free and open to all local religious leaders and church members of any denomination in Vance and Granville counties. Designed to help faith communities support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges—through both practical resources and a faith-based perspective – the Faith in Mental Health program is one way to help churches and their members to become more knowledgeable about available resources and agencies.

“Churches have long been a source of strength and support in our communities,” Sossamon said in a press release from GVPH announcing the extra meetings. “With the right tools and knowledge, faith communities can play a powerful role in walking alongside individuals in their recovery journeys—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.”

Participants will learn about local providers of mental health and substance use treatment; understand the science behind conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and suicidality; explore available treatment options; and discover how faith and spirituality can provide unique forms of support for those in need.

If a church were to develop a mental health ministry that highlights each month a different theme related to mental health, Sossamon said it would go a long way to educated and inform the congregation.

But more than that, just talking openly about mental health and the challenges associated with it, are helpful. “Talk about it and remove the stigma,” Sossamon said. “That in itself is healing.”

For more information or to get involved, contact Sossamon at pastorfrank1954@gmail.com.

Click Play!