TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Law Enforcement In Old Granville

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Before the American Revolution, the Colonists had to import most of what it needed – including rules and laws. In the 1770’s, the sheriff didn’t wear a badge identifying who he was. “Everybody knew who the sheriff was,” said Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room specialist at Richard Thornton Library in Oxford.

There were laws issued by Parliament, and there was another category based more on tradition, called common law. By the time the Revolution dust had settled, the newly minted United States of America were figuring out which laws – and punishments – to keep and which needed to be updated.

Early on, the police stuck with their British counterparts and did not carry firearms, Pace said. But a man named Samuel Colt changed all that in 1836 with his patent for a barrel-chambered pistol, Pace said, which took away the need to repack and reload after each shot.

Police began carrying firearms after the Civil War, during which time the holster, conveniently, was used.

There was a push to make the laws more humane, Pace said. The punishments imposed on people found guilty of crimes were harsh. As late as the 1820’s and ’30’s, Pace said there were 28 felonies that were punishable by death. Other punishments included branding, maiming and being burned at the stake – which makes standing in stocks and pillars in the public square seem tame by comparison.

Pace said lawmakers were more interested in deterring crime than being punitive.

“There was inconsistency from county to county,” he said, which resulted in a movement in the state of North Carolina to codify laws to ensure everyone got fair and equitable treatment under the law.

Horse theft was one of those crimes that was treated seriously. Very few people owned their homes or land, and often a horse was the most valuable – and useful – property one could have. Used as transportation and work on the farm, a horse thief was among the lowest of the low.

Pace recalled the Revolutionary War-era story of two fellows who were sent out by Patriots to look for Tory horse thieves. They were unsuccessful, Pace said, because, well, their horses were stolen.

Down, but not out, the men applied for – and received – restitution from the state of North Carolina for their loss, Pace said.

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Early In-Person Voting Begins Thursday, Oct. 17

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Early in-person voting begins this Thursday, Oct. 17 in North Carolina. Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles reviews some basic information for voters who wish to cast their ballots before the Nov. 5 Election Day.

There are two polling sites in Vance County for the early in-person voting — Aycock Recreational Complex, 305 Carey Chapel Rd. and the former Eaton Johnson gym, 500 N. Beckford Dr.

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they vote, but all voters will be allowed to vote with or without ID. Voters who lack ID can get one for free from their county board of elections. Find out more at ncsbe.gov/voter-id.

Early voting continues on weekdays through Nov. 1. Both in-person polling sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The final day of early voting is Saturday, Nov. 2 and the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that day.

Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. A voter can fill out an absentee ballot request at votebymail.ncsbe.gov or may complete a request form provided by the board of elections.

Although the voter registration deadline has passed, eligible individuals who did not register by the Oct. 11 deadline may register and vote at either early voting site during the early voting period. New registrants will be required to provide documentation of their residence.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the Vance County Board of Elections Office at 252.492.3730.

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

TownTalk: Domestic Violence “Break The Silence” Event Coming Up

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There’s good news this year from Debbie Scott, domestic violence educator with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office: Since Oct. 1 last year, there have been no domestic-related homicides reported in the county.

There have however, been 1,177 calls that came in to local law enforcement agencies that involved either assaults or disputes – 370 physical assaults and 46 sexual assaults.

And so, while Scott celebrates the zero deaths as a result of domestic violence, there is plenty of room for improvement to reduce assaults.

Learn how to become more involved in raising awareness of domestic violence on Saturday, Oct. 26, beginning at 3 p.m. at Clearview Church, 3485 U.S. Hwy. 158, Henderson.

“Domestic violence has no place in our community,” Scott said on Wednesday’s TownTalk, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“It’s unacceptable. That’s why we come together once a year…to wrap our arms around victims, support survivors and offer resources to victims in our community.”

The 6th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event -“BREAK THE SILENCE- STOP THE VIOLENCE”- Round Table Discussion features keynote speaker is Dep. Mark West of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Dinner will be served, courtesy of Clearview Church.

In her role as domestic violence educator, Scott interacts with individuals in the community who may be victims themselves or to groups that offer support to victims and survivors.

“Get involved,” she said. “Continue to get involved – break the stigma…learn the signs and get help,” she said.

To learn more, contact Scott at 252.738.2235 or email her at dscott@vancecounty.org.

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TownTalk: S!stersSpeakLife Plans Breast Cancer Awareness Event

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The van that will be parked at Aycock Rec Center Saturday, Oct. 19 is equipped with potentially life-saving equipment for women across the area.

It’s a mobile diagnostic lab of Invision Diagnostics and Freddie Harris of S!stersSpeakLife said 17 women have already signed up for the mammograms that will be taken inside that van.

Harris, herself a two-time breast cancer survivor, said the mobile lab will provide 3D mammography from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

S!stersSpeakLIfe is a community-focused organization dedicated to supporting breast cancer and raising awareness about breast health.

It’s just one way to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Together We Fight,” she told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

“As a community, we are stronger together,” Harris said.

As of Monday, 17 women had registered, but there’s room for more. “We’re still taking appointments,” she said. “Early detection saves lives.”

More than 310,000 women across the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2024. One in eight women screen positive for breast cancer, she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted the routine, annual mammograms that women should get. “We don’t want any woman to miss the opportunity” to schedule a mammogram.

Register for the event at. Register for the mammogram at 877.318.1349.

There’s no fee to register to attend the event, but Harris said it will help with a count for lunch, which she hopes to be able to provide. Find S!stersSpeakLife on Facebook to learn how to register to attend or call Harris at 252-204-8435

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Applications Being Accepted Now For Lincoln Height Apartments

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The Vance County Housing Authority at Lincoln Height Apartments is accepting applications for two- and three-bedroom apartments.  Applications are accepted on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 224 Lincoln St., Henderson.

Executive Director Bonita R. Hawkins said applicants must bring original birth certificates and original Social Security cards for everyone whose name appears on the application. In addition, a photo ID must be presented for each person over 18 included in the application.

The paperwork must be completed in the office.

For more information, call the office of Lincoln Height Apartments at 252.438.6127

TownTalk: Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Event Friday and Saturday

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Back for its 22nd year, the Show, Shine, Shag & Dine takes over Garnett Street in downtown Henderson Saturday, Oct. 19 for a daylong celebration of all types of cars – custom, antique, racers and more.

But there’s also a pre-show BBQ and cruise-in that takes place at Satterwhite Point Park on Kerr Lake Friday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vance County Tourism Authority staffers Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson said everyone’s invited to kick off the weekend festivities there. The lakeside cruise-in is open to all makes and models, and there will be music and food on hand for all to enjoy.

And if that’s not enough for you, head on over to Charles Bowman’s Southern Classic Cruise In 117 Horner St. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., folks can enjoy more music and more food, and of course more cars.

“Charles has his museum in tip-top shape,” Hester said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “If you’ve never been…you’re missing out.”

Hot rods and restored antique vehicles will be sharing the road – literally – with Corbitt trucks, which were produced in Henderson in the early 20th century.

Dickerson said the Corbitt Preservation group is expecting between 12 and 14 pieces of rolling stock to be on display Saturday.

An antique Ford group is planning to show off their vehicles in the parking lot of the Garnett Street Depot and there most likely will be a dozen or more racing cars for attendees to ooh and aah over.

Vendors will line Garnett Street amid the four-wheeled stars of the show. Organizers expect at least 400 to drive in for the day.

The economic impact is measurable, Hester said. “We had a study done on the traffic of downtown Henderson,” she said. Three hundred sixty-four days of the year, the count was pretty much the same, day in, day out. “Except the day of the car show – it goes up about 10 times higher,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful event,” Hester continued. “The crowd is very diversified…everybody gets along wonderfully…it’s just a community effort.”

Register vehicles between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Enter from W. Winder St. The first 400 entries receive a dash plaque.

The fun continues through 5 p.m. and participants can meander along Garnett Street to see the beautiful cars and enjoy the vendors and food truck offerings.

A few details to keep in mind:

  • No Pets or Exotic Animals
  • No Bicycles
  • No Personal Golf Carts allowed without Permit

Visit https://www.kerrlake-nc.com/car-show.php for details about this weekend’s event.

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‘Cops on Top’ for Special Olympics

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The “Cops on Top” fundraiser to support Special Olympics has wrapped up. It was held from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2024 at Chick-fil-A of Henderson.

City and county government leaders joined representatives of local law enforcement agencies at the Dabney Drive location for a chance to purchase t-shirts and hats, with proceeds going to Special Olympics.

Sheriff Curtis Brame served as the unofficial emcee to invite speakers to address those in attendance at the early-morning kickoff, from Dr. Abidan Shah of Clearview Church to Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott and Susan Rogers with Chick-fil-A.

Some may remember when the event – pre-pandemic – had law enforcement representatives sitting atop the Chick-fil-A roof to raise money. The event returned this year, and law enforcement officers fanned out across the parking lot to invite restaurant patrons to drop some change or folding money into the donation jars.

A card reader was on site for those without cash.

“As God has blessed you, be a blessing to others,” Brame said.

The Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization that provides sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

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(Story edited from its original version which asked people to come before 6 p.m., Oct. 15, 2024.)