Vance Sheriff’s Investigators Use Data From Flock Safety Cameras To Assist In Locating Child; Wake County Woman Charged With Abduction

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– From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On July 27, 2026, detectives with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office received a report regarding the abduction of a juvenile.

Upon receiving the report, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) immediately initiated an investigation. Through the swift coordination of investigative resources, detectives developed information that led them to Charlotte, North Carolina. During the investigation, detectives utilized the department’s Flock Safety camera system to identify and track the vehicle being operated by the suspect. Investigators were able to relay the vehicle information to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, enabling officers to quickly locate the vehicle and the suspect.

As a result of the coordinated investigative efforts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers safely located and recovered the juvenile without injury. The child was taken into protective custody by law enforcement and has since been safely reunited with the juvenile’s parent.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers also located and apprehended Candice Deyoung, a 44-year-old white female from Wake County, without incident. Deyoung was charged with Abduction of Children and transported to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center Central. Detectives with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office subsequently arranged for Deyoung to be transported to the Vance County Detention Center, where she is currently being held pending judicial proceedings.

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame commended the outstanding work of the investigators and assisting law enforcement agencies for their quick response, professionalism, and teamwork that resulted in the safe recovery of the child.

“The safety of our children remains one of our highest priorities. I want to commend our Criminal Investigation Division and our partnering law enforcement agencies for their dedication, professionalism, and relentless efforts that led to the safe recovery of this juvenile and the apprehension of the suspect. Their commitment to protecting our community is truly appreciated.”

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and all law enforcement personnel whose cooperation, communication, and coordinated efforts contributed to the successful resolution of this case.

Because this investigation involves a juvenile, no additional identifying information regarding the child will be released.

This investigation remains active. Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 252.738-2200, call 911, or contact Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the P3 Tips app.

TownTalk: Data Centers Monopolize Time At Wednesday’s Town Hall-Style Forum In District 4

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Folks filled up Bearpond FD Wednesday to take part in the first in a series of community forums hosted by Vance County commissioners.

At a previous commissioners’ meeting, District 4 Commissioner Dan Brummitt volunteered to host the first one; future gatherings are scheduled for the county’s other six districts.

For the first 10 minutes or so of the hour-long session, Brummitt reviewed questions that had been submitted and provided basic answers, but it didn’t take long to get to the topic that no doubt was of interest and concern to many in the room: data centers.

He distributed copies of a three-page “fact sheet” from county staff that addressed six issues associated with data centers, including property tax impacts and infrastructure and environmental considerations.

While the commissioner reiterated previous information that the county has, to date, received no applications for permits, he did state that there’s some site work being done now on at least a portion of the roughly 550 acres in the area of U.S. 158, Poplar Creek Road and I-85.

“We’re aware that (developer Tom) Natelli is working on their plan right now,” Brummitt said, adding that any work would be through agreements with the landowners and not because any permits have been requested or granted.

At times, the crowd was loud as it expressed disagreement and all but drowned out Brummitt’s comments. Several asked about the possibility of a moratorium on data centers. Four other commissioners were among those present at the community forum, and one participant asked to poll those commissioners to find out whether they’d also support a moratorium, an idea Brummitt had suggested in previous meetings that he may willing to get behind.

Commissioner Leo Kelly acknowledged the controversy surrounding data centers, and said he’d had reservations at first. While he didn’t state which side he’d come down on – moratorium or no moratorium, he did say that a moratorium would “kill” the idea of a data center.

“If we slow the process down, how do we meet the needs?” Kelly said, referring to county-funded projects like building a new jail and paying higher supplements to attract and retain teachers.

“We’ve got issues in this county that we’re not able to fund,” Kelly said. “If we have a moratorium, then we’ve got to find revenue to meet those needs.”

But Henderson resident Anne Rivera, who has been a vocal critic of the data center, asked: “What’s the resistance to allowing more time?”

Brummitt said he has received comments from residents who are in support of data centers as well as those who oppose location of such a facility in Vance County.

“We have to listen to all of it and then wait for the facts,” he said.

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TownTalk: Shenandoah Concert Aug. 15 At McGregor Hall

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Everybody wins when a good plan comes together, and an upcoming concert at McGregor Hall is proof of what happens when persistence is mixed in with just a bit of kismet.

The country music group Shenandoah is performing one show on Saturday, Aug. 15 – it’s the only stop in North Carolina on the group’s current tour, said Mark Hopper, McGregor Hall’s executive and artistic director.

“We’re pretty proud to have made this happen,” Hopper said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Persistence just comes with the territory when it comes to booking shows and scheduling performances, but the kismet part of the story is that the band’s agent happens to live in Raleigh.

With Grammy, CMA and ACM awards to their credit, Shenandoah is known for songs that tell stories like “Two Dozen Roses” and “Church on Cumberland Road,” just to name a couple.

For Hopper, “Sunday in the South” is a particular favorite from the Shenandoah playlist.

As the son of a pastor growing up in rural western North Carolina, this song resonates.

Although trained as a classical musician, Hopper listened to country music growing up. “I grew up with it…most people would never know that about me,” he said.

He remembers sitting in the family’s den, listening to the radio tuned in to a Greenville, SC station and then hearing a different kind of music on Sundays at church.

The song, he said, describes how he lived “every single week growing up in western North Carolina…Our entire world rotated around Sunday and church.”

Church was a place – besides school – where he could socialize with other kids. And folks would bring casseroles and desserts to the parsonage for absolutely no reason except to take care of the pastor and his family, he recalled.

“There’s real comfort in that tradition,” Hopper said. “It’s where values are born.”

Whether you’ve listened to Shenandoah since the band came on the scene in 1989 or whether you’re curious to hear more from a group that was part of a return to the country-western style of music, the concert is sure to please.

“Shenandoah was a bit of a return to country roots,” Hopper explained. In the 1970’s artists like Charley Pride and George Jones were embracing a “wall of sound” concept, using orchestras instead of steel guitars and fiddles to complement their songs.

When Shenandoah came on the scene, the pendulum was swinging back to that original western country music sound – getting back to its roots, he said.

Get tickets for Shenandoah online at www.mcgregorhall.org or call or stop by the box office, located at 201 Breckenridge St. Monday-Friday 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The phone number is 252.598.0662.

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NCDOT

NCDOT Launches ‘Projects Near Me’ To Find Road Projects Across State

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— Information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Transportation

The N.C. Department of Transportation recently launched an interactive online tool called Projects Near Me where people can explore a map featuring a wide range of state transportation project data.

The map is searchable by address, making it easy to find projects near any location, and by project identification number in the State Transportation Improvement Program. It can also display projects by county or NCDOT Highway Division.

Additional filters allow users to search the map by project type — aviation, bicycle and pedestrian, bridge and structure, ferry, highway, public transportation, rail, and other miscellaneous projects. The map can also display indicators for projects that are of high public interest, have public engagement, or are future projects.

Users can click on any map pin to display more project information, including a local map and description of the work, milestones for those that are committed for funding in the current STIP, and contact information.

The data behind the Projects Near Me map is subject to change as projects evolve. The map does not feature data on travel impacts associated with current transportation projects. Visit https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/ProjectsNearMe/default.aspx to search county-by-county projects.

People should continue to use https://www.drivenc.gov/ for real-time traffic information across North Carolina.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Live Music at the VCRFM this Saturday

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This Saturday, Aug. 1, the Vance County Regional Farmers Market is offering up a little musical food for the soul to go along with all that fresh produce, yummy baked goods and colorful cut flowers, courtesy of Mysti Mayhem.

The Durham-based singer and songwriter brings her unique sound of soulful blues to the market for a performance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Market Manager Stephen Wolf said folks are in for not just a musical treat, but a culinary one as well.

Mayhem’s husband is going to conduct a cooking class that involves making homemade mozzarella and different types of pesto.

Having live music is just one way Wolf wants to try to attract new visitors to the market. He’s been in the job close to a month now, and he said he’s pleased with the level of vendor participation and patrons.

And on days when there’s special entertainment, like this Saturday, the market will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving customers an extra hour to shop.

Last weekend’s rainy weather didn’t dampen attendance, he said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

There were more than 500 shoppers from Vance and other nearby counties, he said.

“Everyone is seeing the importance of shopping local,” he said, adding that he wants that sentiment to continue to grow.

From produce, fruit, baked goods and farm-raised meats to cut flowers and handicrafts, the market’s vendors provide a wide variety of products for customers to enjoy.

“I’ve gotten so much great feedback from the shoppers and vendors alike,” Wolf said, expressing their satisfaction with turnout and advertising, all to support the “eat local” philosophy.

Another way to support the “eat local” phenomenon with younger customers involves using technology. And QR codes.

Tech-savvy customers can create a personal QR code to get their names in the bucket for a raffle at the close of the season, Wolf said. There’s also a loyalty program that will reward repeat customers with a branded, reusable shopping bag after three trips. Customers who shop at the market five times will earn a little off their total shopping bill, he explained.

Of course, the QR code may not appeal to everyone and that’s fine, too.

While it’s one way to see how many visitors the market has on a given day, Wolf said he’d continue to use that ancient, muscle-powered device known as the handheld clicker.

“I will definitely still be operating the clicker,” he said.

 

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TownTalk: 2nd Annual ‘Shaping the Future’ Taking Shape For Aug. 8

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As plans take shape for the 2nd annual free community event on Saturday, Aug. 8 in downtown Henderson, organizer Jayden Watkins says the event has something for all ages.

It’s called “Shaping the Future: A Community Extravaganza,” and Watkins hopes to see youth and adults of all ages from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Breckenridge Street outside Perry Memorial Library to take in all the sights and sounds that go along with an event of this nature.

In addition to food trucks, a bouncy house, live entertainment, free health screenings and even a blood drive, Watkins said more than 600 bookbags – filled with school supplies – will be distributed during the event. And college students, take note: you can register for the chance to get a free laptop computer, he added.

A youth talent showcase gets underway at 12 noon, and Watkins said he’s hopeful that youth and young adults will contact him to join in the fun.

“If you know someone or if you… want to participate,” there will be a stage, microphones, the works, Watkins explained on Tuesday’s TownTalk. Some of the acts include dance and spoken word, among others.

Planning an event for the whole community is no small task, and Watkins said he’s still looking for donations of school supplies to go along with the very generous donation of 3,000 items given by House of Toyz, one of two presenting sponsors. Margier White is the other presenting sponsor.

Those school supplies won’t pack themselves, so volunteers are needed Friday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. to fill bookbags.

Turning Point CDC is bringing its mobile learning lab, and a couple of event-decorating companies are pitching in with balloon installations and chairs to create a festive, comfortable atmosphere.

“Every detail of the event matters to me,” Watkins said.

Watkins, now 18, has accomplished a lot in a short time – in addition to being a minister, author, podcaster and youth organizer, he has formed and leads the non-profit Higher is Waiting.

So far, God’s plans for him have been in Henderson, his hometown.

“I am mission- and vision-focused,” he said, but added that in just a few weeks, his focus is most likely going to shift as he heads off to UNC-Chapel Hill.

He’s asked himself more than once how he’s going to balance being a college student and continue being involved in his community.

The answer, he says simply, is by being very discerning. He may not be able to say “yes” to everything God is putting in his path.

“He wants me to do them, but He doesn’t want me to do them now,” Watkins said.

And although he’ll be away at school, he said Henderson will always be close by – in his heart and mind.

“I have to go so I can grow,” he said. “I’m going to always come back to Henderson.

I may move because God wants me to grow and learn and explore, but I’m never going to forget my humble beginnings.”

Call or text Jayden at 252.425.0354, find him and his non-profit on Facebook or visit  https://jaydenwatkins.com/higher-is-waiting to learn more.

 

 

 

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Fall Army Worms

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today’s show focuses on the impending annual invasion of fall army worms. It also includes reminders for upcoming events like National Farmers Market Week.

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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“W.A.” West, Jr. Appointed to Vance County Board of Elections

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Willard A. “W.A.” West, Jr. has been appointed to Vance County Board of Elections, according to information from Vance County Republican Party Chair Jimmy Barrier.

In a statement posted on social media following the July 23 swearing-in ceremony, Barrier said, “We thank the state board of elections for making this appointment to the county board. With the November mid-term elections approaching, full county board membership is essential to supporting the election and voting process. We are grateful that Mr. West will serve on the board.”

West was appointed to fill the seat previously occupied by Robert A. Maddry, II, who served for one year.

“Mr. West has the full confidence of the Vance County GOP. We believe he will be a strong advocate foe election integrity and for upholding the federal and state constitutions to ensure that all voters in Vance County experience free and fair elections,” according to the social media post.