Public Invited to Historical Marker Dedication for James E. Webb

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-Information and photo courtesy the Granville County Government’s Facebook page

The public is invited to attend the dedication of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker in honor of James E. Webb of Granville County at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Webb served as NASA Administrator from 1961 to 1968.

The marker will be dedicated in front of C.G. Credle Elementary School in Oxford and will be the 13th one installed in Granville County by the state since 2005.

A reception will follow at the Granville County Historical Society Museum’s Harris Exhibit Hall, 1 Museum Lane in Oxford, where an exhibit about Webb’s life will be on display.

Credle School is located at 223 College Street in Oxford.

The public is invited to attend the dedication of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker in honor of James E. Webb of Granville County at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Webb served as NASA Administrator from 1961 to 1968. The marker will be dedicated in front of C.G. Credle Elementary School in Oxford (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

U.S. Department of Justice

Louisburg Woman Sentenced to Three Years for Felon in Possession Charge

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced LINDSEY NICOLE UNDERHILL, 28, of Louisburg to 36 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised released.

On October 18, 2018, UNDERHILL was named in an Indictment that charged her with Possession of Firearms by a Felon. On January 7, 2019, UNDERHILL pled guilty to that charge.

On May 30, 2018, UNDERHILL, a convicted felon, traveled to Arrow Pawn and Jewelry located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and pawned three firearms: a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun; a Hi-Point 9mm handgun; and a North American Arms .22 caliber revolver.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was brought using the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Smith prosecuted the case for the government.

News 04/02/19

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With Community Support, VGCC Plans to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

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-Press Release, VGCC 

During 2019, Vance-Granville Community College marks a half-century of excellence in education and training, and college officials are planning for events that tie into the celebration throughout the year.

These events include: the seventh annual VGCC Dinner Theater, set for April 25 and April 26; the 35th annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, on May 7; commencement exercises for VGCC’s 50th graduating class, on May 10; a formal inauguration of the college’s new president, Dr. Rachel Desmarais; and events at each campus on or around Sept. 4 – the date on the college’s original charter, which is traditionally observed as the college’s official birthday. A team of college faculty and staff are currently finalizing plans for additional events and activities.

“The 50th anniversary of VGCC provides numerous opportunities for us to celebrate the positive impact this institution has had on Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, while also renewing our commitment to our students and our communities,” Dr. Desmarais said.

Local citizens and businesses have stepped up to support the college’s anniversary celebration. The highest level of anniversary sponsorship is represented by the “Vanguard” sponsors. These include Bob Hubbard of Henderson, longtime vice-chair of the VGCC Endowment Fund Board of Directors; Mr. and Mrs. Hutson “Hut” Wester of Henderson, who are also supporters of the Endowment Fund; and Mr. and Mrs. John Nelms, Jr., of Raleigh, the son and daughter-in-law of the late John K. Nelms, who served on both the VGCC Board of Trustees and the Endowment Board. Four businesses are also Vanguard sponsors: Duke Energy, Altec Industries of Creedmoor, the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham, and Henderson Fruit and Produce.

Sponsors at the “Patron” level include Mr. and Mrs. Bob Nelson of Henderson; J.M. White Funeral Home of Henderson and Mr. and Mrs. Julius Banzet of Warren County.

“Benefactors” for the anniversary include Janet Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Tanner, Hicks and Wrenn, PLLC, the Honorable and Mrs. Randolph Baskerville, Mr. and Mrs. Josh Towne, Katharine Horner, Phillips Dorsey Thomas Waters & Brafford, P.A., CertainTeed, Ruth Brummitt, Nathan Fleming, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Crawford.

“We thank these steadfast friends of the college for their commitment to helping us celebrate Vance-Granville’s rich tradition of service to our region,” said VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson.

The four-county educational institution that is today VGCC began in 1969 as Vance County Technical Institute. After offering classes in various community locations, VCTI moved into renovated quarters of the former Maria Parham Hospital building near downtown Henderson in January 1970.

Soon, phenomenal growth in enrollment made it clear that the school needed larger, more permanent facilities. Granville County leaders then joined Vance County in supporting a united effort to construct and maintain a brand-new campus.

With the institution renamed Vance-Granville Technical Institute, the new campus was built midway between Henderson and Oxford. It opened in August 1976, just six weeks after the legislature granted community college status, meaning that the school could offer students the first two years of a four-year degree. Accordingly, its name was changed to Vance-Granville Community College.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ben Currin, VGCC’s longest-serving president, the college expanded by establishing additional campuses: South Campus, a facility in southern Granville County, in 1982; the Warren County Campus in 1988; and the Franklin County Campus in 1991. Throughout the years, the institution has benefited from the strong support of citizens in all four counties, in the form of donors’ endowed scholarships and in the form of voters’ approval of bonds to build facilities.

In more recent years, VGCC has been transformed through the addition of online programs that can extend educational opportunities to even more students and through the establishment of four Early College high schools — one at each VGCC campus — in partnership with local public school systems.

“In the short time I have been at Vance-Granville, I’ve heard from so many people in the four-county area about how much pride they take in their community college. They want to see it grow while maintaining a focus on accessibility and preparing students for great careers,” added Dr. Desmarais. “In fact, VGCC Vanguards are all around us in the community, demonstrating the college’s excellence over the past 50 years. Our alumni are leaders in business, in health care, in education, in law enforcement and so many other fields.”

The college is interested in hearing from alumni about how their education at VGCC prepared them for success. To share such a story, or to find out more about supporting the college, contact Eddie Ferguson at (252) 738-3264 or fergusone@vgcc.edu.

New Hope Elementary to Receive $500 Kohl’s Grant

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

There were five Kohl’s employees who traveled from their store in Durham to spend about half of the school day helping students and teachers in their classrooms on March 14.

As a result of the employees’ assistance with students and teachers at New Hope Elementary School, Kohl’s will award the school the grant funding.

Kohl’s employees, wearing their blue volunteer t-shirts, are shown in the two accompanying photos as they work with students in their classrooms. Kohl’s staff helped students with reading and math assignments during their volunteer time at the school. The volunteers worked mostly with small groups of students in classrooms in grades 3-5 at New Hope.

Principal Harold Thompson, Jr. said the Kohl’s employees were a great help during the approximately four hours they were at the school. He noted that New Hope students always enjoy having adults to come into their classrooms to assist them with their work.

(Photo courtesy VCS)

(Photo courtesy VCS)

Masonic Home for Children

Masonic Home Welcomes Volunteers for 8th Annual ‘Great Landscape Day’

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-Information courtesy Jennifer Cufalo, Financial Development Assistant, Masonic Home for Children at Oxford

The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford will hold their 8th Annual Great Landscape Day on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

Individual and group volunteers are invited to share in a day of fellowship that will improve the appearance of the children’s home. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 (no rain date – call for updates)

Where: Campus of Masonic Home for Children – 600 College St. in Oxford, NC

Schedule: 7:30 – 9 a.m. – continental breakfast for participants; 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – landscaping event on campus; 12 p.m. –  lunch and conclusion of event.

Participants must RSVP on or before Friday, April 5 to indicate their interest and must include the number attending. To RSVP or for more information, contact MHCO at (919) 603-3930 or email jcufalo@mhc-oxford.org.

2019 N.C. Strawberry Season Underway

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

April signals the start of strawberry season in North Carolina, and local growers are expecting a very good crop that should last through Memorial Day.

“There should be plenty of berries this year despite a wet and cold first quarter in 2019,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We encourage consumers to visit a pick-your-own farm, go to a farmers market or stop by a roadside stand to get the freshest berries available.”

Consumers also can find locally grown strawberries in grocery stores and restaurants by looking for the Got to Be NC logo. The Got to Be NC program is the official state identity program for N.C. agricultural products, and lets consumers know they are buying a product grown, raised, caught or made in North Carolina.

North Carolina is the fourth-largest producer of strawberries in the nation, with about 1,100 acres harvested across the state. Growers have already started picking in Eastern North Carolina. Piedmont growers will begin picking in mid-April and growers in the mountains should start by the first of May. The peak of the season is traditionally Mother’s Day.

The department and the N.C. Strawberry Association will celebrate with two Strawberry Day events in May. The first event is at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh on May 2 and at the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax on May 3. Both celebrations include a strawberry recipe contest, ice cream samples and a visit by Suzy Strawberry.

More information about the strawberry industry is available at www.ncstrawberry.com. Consumers interested in finding a you-pick strawberry farm near them can go to www.gottobenc.com.

Hinton to Perform at Henderson Institute Museum in Honor of Jazz Month

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-Information and flyer courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

In celebration of April as Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), the Henderson Institute Historical Museum will feature singer, songwriter, musician and entertainer Leah Hinton on Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 6 until 9 p.m.

Cost is $25; refreshments will be served.

The museum is located at 629 W. Rockspring St. in Henderson, NC.

Contact the museum at (252) 430-0616 for ticket information.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Rebuilding Hope Names Bob “PlumBob” Demarco April’s Spotlight Volunteer

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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 

When retired plumber Bob Demarco relocated from Maine to Warrenton, N.C., in 2012, he found “the perfect place for me to serve and be able to use the talents and gifts God has blessed me with.”

That place? Rebuilding Hope.

“I was immediately embraced by so many exceptional men and women who mentored and directed me to serve in several different capacities, including plumbing, welding and construction. I took an instant liking to my newfound hobby and even started publishing some battery backup sump pump reviews on the internet,” Bob says.

Bob says he connected with RHI through a member of Central Baptist Church, where he and wife Chris were attending.

Bob Demarco named Rebuilding Hope’s April 2019 Volunteer of the Month. (Photo Credit: RHI)

“I reached out to Charles Granger, asking if he might know of a need as I had a stove and refrigerator to donate,” he says. “Charles told me of Rebuilding Hope and explained the mission and work. It was amazing that God delivered me to Rebuilding Hope so quickly.”

Bob says that “the work I have done at Rebuilding Hope has been the most gratifying and fulfilling work I have ever done.

“One of my favorite events is Kids Camp where I teach younger boys and girls plumbing and drywall construction.”

One camper, Bob says, really paid attention.

“My heart was touched by a young boy who after class went home and looked under the kitchen sink and, with amazement, asked his mom and dad if they knew they had pipes there.”

Now a resident of Johnston County and a member of Wilson’s Mills Baptist Church, Bob continues his volunteer work at RHI.

Recently, his skills were put to use plumbing bathrooms and showers for second-floor bunk rooms.

“To volunteer at Rebuilding Hope fills the needs of the community and fills my soul and heart,” says Bob, who’s affectionately known as “PlumBob.”

At his new church, Bob serves on the Community Service Committee and in the prayer ministry. He also works with Serve the Need of Johnston County, whose work is similar to that of RHI.

In leisure time, Bob says he enjoys reading and drumming.

He and Chris have five children, 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

News 04/01/19

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