VCS Kicks Off 2025-26 Registration With In-Person, Virtual Info Sessions

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Vance County Schools is hosting several information sessions over the next few weeks to help parents learn more about the district’s Innovative Schools offerings as they decide which school environment best suits their child.

The Innovative School application process officially opens Tuesday, Jan. 7 and runs through Friday, Feb. 7, according to information from VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin. Registration for kindergarten and PK also opens tomorrow.

The five options listed below offer unique learning environments designed to spark curiosity, build critical skills, and prepare students for a successful future, according to information from VCS. Each school program is uniquely designed to meet the diverse learning needs of its students.

  • Vance County Early College (rising 9th graders)
  • STEM Early High School (rising 6th graders)
  • E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy (Grades K-5)
  • Vance Virtual Village Academy (Grades 6-12)
  • AdVance Academy (Grades 9-12)

Here’s a list of dates when prospective families can drop in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more:

➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: Vance County Early College, on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road, Bldg. 9

➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: EM Rollins STEAM Academy, 1600 S. Garnett St.

➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: Advance Academy, 219 Charles St., Entrance 2

➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: STEM Early High, 219 Charles St., Entrance 3

➔ Wednesday, Jan.15: Vance Virtual Village, 219 Charles St., Entrance 1

There also will be a virtual session scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, during which principals of the five innovative schools will be available to answer questions and to share additional information about their programs. Find the link on the VCS website in the top right corner www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

The application is available on the VCS website, too. Visit  www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on Innovative Schools at the top of the page.

Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.

The district’s PK program provides children with foundational learning experiences that set the stage for long-term academic success. Children must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for Pre-K enrollment.

Find the PK and K applications by visiting www.vcs.k12.nc.us and clicking Enroll in the upper right corner. The district will hold open registrations at individual elementary schools on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Virtual info sessions for PK and K will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23. Times will be announced at a later date, but the Wednesday session will be held during the day and the Thursday session will be held in the evening.

No Signs of Foul Play; Man Died in Car in Walmart Parking Lot

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— information courtesy of the Henderson Police Department and Chief of Police Marcus Barrow

On January 3, 2025, at approximately 9 p.m., officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive individual in the parking lot of Walmart, located at 200 N. Cooper Dr.

The person, identified by police as Brian Allen Campbell, age 39, was found unresponsive in his vehicle.

Campbell was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.

Emergency personnel have not identified any signs of foul play at this time. Campbell’s body was transported to a local facility for evaluation by a medical examiner.

The Henderson Police Department will maintain an open investigation pending the findings of the medical examiner or any additional information that may become available.

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TownTalk: Vance Commissioners Elect Vice Chair, Hold Public Hearing On 2025-26 Budget At Monday Meeting

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Update 10:25 p.m. on 1/6/25:

The Vance County Board of Commissioners elected Yolanda Feimster as its new vice chair at its meeting Monday evening.

The board also held the first of two public hearings to hear from residents about priorities for the 2025-26 budget during its first regular meeting of the year, and the first meeting with Carolyn Faines as chair. Faines was elected to lead the board during a special called meeting last week, following Sean Alston’s announcement that he was stepping down to take a job as a Warren County magistrate.

Several residents spoke during the public hearing, which lasted about 15 minutes, but their messages shared a common theme: reconsider the current tax rate and have a revenue neutral budget in place for FY 2025-26.

Laura Perkinson told commissioners she owns properties in both the city and the county, and she advocates a revenue neutral budget. During her four minutes of allotted time, Perkinson also said property owners should not be charged late fees when paying 2024 tax bills “so we all can catch up.”

The deadline to pay without incurring a 2 percent penalty was today, Jan. 6.

Caroline Burnette has spoken to commissioners during previous public comment periods and she reiterated her concerns about the current tax rate. Burnette asked the commissioners to reconsider the tax rate and said the board should be held accountable for raising the rate during the most recent budget process.

Lee Chandler said he wants to see budget cuts and next year’s budget be “below revenue neutral.”

When Commissioner Dan Brummitt stood up and moved away from his seat briefly, Angela Ryan paused her remarks to the board, stating that she would wait for Brummitt’s return.
“We need to be heard and I want to make sure that I am,” Ryan said.

In remarks following comments from the residents, Commissioner Leo Kelly said “We hear you.” Kelly said he’s lived in Vance County his entire life, and when he voted on the budget, it meant his taxes went up, too.

“I paid my taxes, (but) I paid them grudgingly,” he said.

Before the public hearing was closed, Brummitt thanked those who had approached the podium to address the board. He commented that in his close to two decades as a commissioner, Monday’s hearing was “only the second public hearing where people have spoken.”

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Update 2:15 p.m. on 1/6/25:

The Vance County Board of Commissioners is expected to elect a new vice chair at the first regular meeting of 2025 scheduled for this evening, following last week’s resignation of Commissioner Sean Alston, who stepped away from the board to accept a magistrate’s position in Warren County.

The board unanimously elected Carolyn Faines as chair of the board during a special called meeting on Monday, Dec. 30, but tabled a vote to elect vice chair.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. According to the agenda, selection of a new vice chair will be the first order of business, followed by several appointment and then a public hearing to collect comments from county residents as county leaders continue planning for the 2025-26 budget.

The public hearing on the budget is listed as Item 6 on the agenda. This public hearing is the first of two that are scheduled; the second is scheduled for June 2 – after the recommended budget has been submitted to commissioners for review.

Other items for discussion from County Manager C. Renee Perry’s report to the board include the fire marshal budget, amendments to the personnel policy, jail inspection reports from 2023 and 2024, sheriff legal fees, board work sessions and the EMS substation.

View the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/@VanceCountyNC/streams.

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Update 1/5/25:

Straight from the Vance County Commissioners meeting 1-6-25 agenda, the meeting will include within the first few items a fiscal year 2025-2026 pre-budget public hearing.

The public notice says, “The Vance County Board of Commissioners will conduct a FY 2025-26 Pre-Budget Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m., or shortly thereafter, on January 6, 2025 in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room at 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC.”

Before the Board of Commissioners begins work on next year’s budget, the board “is interested in receiving suggestions and priorities from residents to help them in the development of the budget.”

This is one of two required public hearings that will be held on the budget.

“The county manager will submit a recommended budget in May and a second public hearing will be held on the proposed budget on June 2, 2025,” the notice within the agenda states.

The budget is supposed to be adopted before July 1, 2024.

The agenda says, “This notice was published on December 24, 2024,” which in North Carolina means it was published in the newspaper.

TownTalk Broadcast 1-6-25 Prior to Meeting!

Rebuilding Hope’s Servants On Site Set For June 23-27

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The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, a break on the cost of registering for the summertime Servants On Site program sponsored by Rebuilding Hope, Inc.

The dates are already set – June 23-27 – and early registration deadline is Jan. 15, according to information from the Rebuilding Hope, Inc. newsletter.

Registrations received by Jan. 15 will pay a total of $150; after Jan. 15, the cost will go up to $200. A deposit of $50 is required with registrations.

The fee covers the cost of a theme T-shirt, meals and lodging and scholarships are available.

SOS is described as a week of work, worship and witness in Vance and surrounding counties. It is a mission opportunity for youth – participants need to have completed sixth grade by the time SOS begins.

During the day, participants will work to repair and renovate homes in the area; there will be opportunities for fellowship and sharing the gospel, too, from daily devotions to worship services each evening.

Visit https://rebuildinghopeinc.org/  to learn more.

Visit info@rebuildinghopeinc.org for scholarship information.

Leadership Vance 2025 Application Period Open Now Through Jan. 24

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The 2025 class of Leadership Vance is forming now, and local Chamber of Commerce officials encourage individuals to consider applying for a spot now.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 24, according to information from Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson. This will be the 34th class to participate in the program, which gives participants a chance to learn all about Vance County from A to Z.

Over seven months, the structured program is designed to create a corps of informed and dedicated emerging leaders, giving members an in-depth knowledge of the county in which they live and work.

 

The class will be capped at 18; Wilkerson asks that no payment be made until participants are notified of acceptance.

Contact the Chamber office for more information about the cost and time commitment. The initial orientation is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Call or drop by the Chamber office, 414 S. Garnett St., Henderson (252.438.8414) or email Wilkerson sandra@hendersonvance.org.

 

Kerr-Tar COG Seeks Sponsors For 2025 N.C. Senior Games

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Local businesses and individuals still have time to become sponsors for the 2025 Kerr-Tar Regional Senior Games, held each spring across the five counties that comprise the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Sponsorship levels include:

Gold – $1,500

Silver – $1,000

Bronze – $500

Family – $250

Friend – $100

Sponsors can choose to provide regionwide support or a specific county, according to information from KTCOG officials. Make checks payable to Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments to provide regionwide support or to your local Senior Center to support a particular county.

The Senior Games holds events in all five counties and involves adults 50 years and older in a variety of athletic events, as well as Silver Arts, which includes creative and performing arts.

In 2024, more than 223 local athletes participated in more than 50 sporting events and Silver Arts categories. Even more participants are expected for the 2025 games. First- and second-place winners qualify for the state finals, and state finals winners advance to the National Senior Games, held every two years.

For more information, contact local coordinator Michael Patterson or local co-coordinator Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org or callen@kerrtarcog.org.

The Local Skinny! Variety Wholesalers To Add Big Lots To Its List Of Stores

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Henderson-based Variety Wholesalers is acquiring hundreds of Big Lots stores and a couple of distribution centers, practically doubling the number of retail stores it operates in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Add Big Lots to the 380 or so Roses, Roses Express, Maxway, Bill’s Dollar Stores, Super 10, Super Dollar and Bargain Town stores that currently are operated by Variety Wholesalers.

The deal is part of a sale announced Dec. 27 to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners which  enables the transfer of between 200 and 400 Big Lots locations to Variety Wholesalers, according to information provided by Big Lots, Inc.

Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September 2024.

Lisa Seigies, Variety Wholesalers’ president and CEO, said, “We are excited to partner with Gordon Brothers to provide a path forward for the Big Lots brand and hundreds of its stores. We look forward to working with members of the Big Lots team to realize the exciting opportunities ahead.”

Bruce Thorn, Big Lots’ president and chief executive officer, said, “The strategic sale to Gordon Brothers and the transfer to Variety Wholesalers is a favorable and significant achievement for Big Lots that reflects the tireless work and collective effort of our team. This sale agreement and transfer present the strongest opportunity to preserve jobs, maximize value for the estate and ensure continuity of the Big Lots brand. We are grateful to our associates nationwide for their grit and resilience throughout this process.”

Rick Edwards, Gordon Brothers Retail Partners’ Head of North America Retail, said, “We are pleased to reach this strategic agreement with Big Lots and partner with Variety Wholesalers to achieve a path forward that allows Big Lots to continue to serve customers with extreme bargains and an outstanding shopping experience.”

 

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Granville County Emergency Communications Honored by North Carolina 911 Board

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In his role as North Central Regional Coordinator for the N. C.  911 board, Brian Short sees how counties cooperate to provide the very best coverage possible when it comes to handling emergencies.

No longer a boots-on-the-ground participant, Short nonetheless witnessed first-hand how counties not affected by Hurricane Helene came to the aid of those in western North Carolina who were hit by floods and mudslides as the remnants of the storms ripped through the state.

The Granville County 911 call center was recently recognized by the state’s 911 board for the mutual aid it provided to Mitchell County from late September to mid-October.

Short may be a familiar name to many in the area – he spent more than three decades in service to Vance County, about 27 of which were as emergency services director.

His retirement in May 2023 was short-lived, however, when he became one of four state coordinators. The North Central region includes 22 counties, including the four counties in the WIZS listening area.

“I happened to be on duty at the state operations emergency center at the height of Helene,” Short said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. As mountain counties reported losing connectivity, Short said he and others manning the phones and radios had to figure out what to do.

“As they started to drop, we knew we had to act quickly,” he said. “I had already been working on a list of potential places to reroute those calls,” and when Granville County was contacted, he said 911 Emergency Services Director Stacy Hicks didn’t hesitate. “Yes, send them our way – we’re ready,” Short recalled her saying. “And just like that, Granville started getting those calls.”

That was on Sept. 27. For the next 17 days, about a quarter of all calls fielded by Granville County 911 were calls originating from Mitchell County, Hicks stated in a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

“Our team handled a wide range of emergencies, including flood rescues, medical calls, welfare checks, and reports of individuals trapped in homes or vehicles due to mudslides, downed trees, and rising waters. I’m proud of the work we did to assist Mitchell County while they were in distress while also continuing to provide the same emergency services to Granville County residents,” Hicks said.

“Granville County served as a Public Safety Answering Point ‘friend’ to Mitchell County and provided tremendous assistance and dedication to the citizens of western North Carolina by answering 911 calls from miles away in response to Hurricane Helene,” Short said.

Thanks to technology, overall consistency of operations and training that county PSAP employees receive, counties can come to the aid of other counties in emergency situations.

The way Short explained it, because of the mutual aid that unaffected counties were able to give to those ravaged by Helene in the western part of the state, “we lost no

911 calls, even during the heart of the hurricane Helene impact.”

Given the widespread devastation and loss of power, internet and cell phone service, the counties providing mutual aid had to think outside the box to get information relayed quickly and accurately.

“A lot of times, these PSAPs had to think on their feet,” Short said. “It wasn’t as simple as (sending) an email,” he said. “What it really came down to at the PSAP level was knowledge, creativity at the ground level” that played a critical role in sending help where it was needed.

“Every call they took was a true emergency,” he said – life and death emergencies. “I’m very proud of every PSAP in my region, they stepped up and did what they had to do.”