TownTalk: 4th Annual VCS Golf Tournament Mar. 27

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The fourth annual golf tournament sponsored by the Vance Charter School Booster Club is coming up on Mar. 27, but there are only two team slots left, so register soon if you want to take part.

VCS Booster Club President Caroline Overby and VCS Athletic Director Lance Stallings are looking forward to the event, which will be held at Henderson Country Club. The first tournament had 12 teams participating, and last year’s event had a then-record 17 teams, Stallings said on Monday’s TownTalk.

This year’s goal is 20 teams and they’ve already got 18 signed up – well on their way to meet the mark. “We’ve been blown away with the support early on,” Stallings said. Registration continues until Mar. 7.

Overby said the tournament will begin at 12 noon with a shotgun start. As the golfers complete their rounds, they’ll be able to head back to the club house before the awards presentation at 6 p.m.

This year marks the first time that the event will include a silent auction and live music from  Whiskey Bent band from Oxford. Overby said she and event organizers are confident that these additions will add to the festivities.

“It’s going to be a great day of golfing,” Overby said, in support of the athletic department and student athletes at Vance Charter.

Stallings said the booster club helps the athletic department by supplementing what the school is able to provide its teams and athletes – from extra team meals to pitching machines for the baseball team. The booster club goes “the extra mile,” he said. “It’s difficult to have a successful athletic department without having a booster club…it’s a great partnership that we have with them and we’re grateful for them.”

Overby praised local businesses and others for their support as well.

Presenting sponsors for this year’s golf tournament are Chick-fil-A, Drake & Seymour Dentistry and Sossamon Funeral Home.

But there are additional opportunities for sponsorships, including Gold level ($1,700) Silver level ($1,250) and Blue level ($700).

To find out more, contact Stallings at 252.431.0440 or Overby at 252.213.7121.

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U.S. Attorney For Eastern District Of N.C. Announces Whistleblower Pilot Program

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— information courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. has announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.

“In this office, we are focused on enhancing the identification and prosecution of white-collar crime,” Easley said in a written statement released Friday. “The EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program achieves that by incentivizing individuals to proactively come forward with information about crimes taking place within corporations.  The benefit to the participant, if qualified, is avoiding prosecution.  We encourage all who may have information on fraud, corruption, or corporate crime, to fill out the short form on our website.”

To encourage early voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conduct and to promote effective enforcement of criminal laws, the office has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.  The program applies to circumstances where an individual discloses information regarding certain covered subjects identified in the policy to this office, Easley’s statement explained.  Covered subjects include criminal conduct undertaken by or through public or private entities or organizations, including corporations, partnerships, non-profits, exchanges, financial institutions, investment advisers, or investment funds involving fraud or corporate control failures; intellectual property theft and related violations; or offenses affecting market integrity.

The policy also applies to disclosed criminal conduct involving state or local bribery or fraud relating to federal, state or local funds.  The policy does not apply to offenses involving violence.  Provided all policy conditions are met, this office will enter into a deferred or non-prosecution agreement with the whistleblower.

By clarifying the requirements and benefits of such self-disclosure, this office seeks to incentivize individuals (and their counsel) to provide actionable and timely information.  This will, in turn, help us expose more misconduct and better protect the communities we serve.

Find a complete copy of the policy, along with the application at:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/ednc-whistleblower-pilot-program

(Originally posted to WIZS.com Jan. 24, 2025)

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The Local Skinny! Father Daughter Dance Feb. 1 At Henderson Family YMCA

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Fathers and daughters can enjoy a special evening together at the upcoming Father Daughter Dance at the Henderson Family YMCA.

Sponsored by Chick-fil-A, the dance will take place at the Y, 380 Ruin Creek Rd. on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for each dad-daughter pair, but additional daughters can join in the fun for an extra $5. The dance is for girls 5-12 years old and their father or that special male role model in their lives.

Icon Entertainment is providing music for the event.

And don’t forget dinner beforehand! Stop by the Chick-fil-A off Dabney Drive at 200 Trade St. between 5:30 p.m. and 7 for a pre-dance meal. You’ll get one free child’s meal with purchase of an adult meal before heading over to the dance.

Registration is open now and ends Friday, Jan. 31.

Visit https://www.hendersonymca.org/ and scroll down to find the dance under Upcoming Events & Registration.

Contact Director of Membership Tesa Alexander at tesaa@henfamymca.org to learn more.

 

TownTalk: Charles Turrentine, Jr., 2024 Recipient of United Way’s Sam Watkins Visionary Award

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The winner of the 2024 Sam Watkins Visionary Award has a clear vision for what his community can be – for young people, for all people.

Charles Turrentine, Jr. told WIZS Wednesday that he thought he was attending Tuesday’s United Way banquet to see his wife recognized for being Warren County’s Teacher of the Year.

As Turrentine listened as the presenter described the recipient’s projects and accomplishments, he said they sounded familiar, but added he “didn’t have a clue” that he was the award winner. “To be honest, it’s still kind of a shock,” Turrentine said, just a day after getting the award.

Whether through his work with renovating the Chestnut Street Park and Crime Stoppers or being a trustee for Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Turrentine, 41, said his focus is on changing the narrative of Vance County.

And he’s hoping to add to his growing list of interests that of county commissioner. Turrentine lives in District 3 – the seat recently vacated by Sean Alston – and he wants to be appointed to fill Alston’s unexpired term and then run for the seat when it is next up for election.

“I’ve been putting the word out there,” Turrentine said. “I’m not doing it for me – I’m doing it for Henderson and Vance County…I’ve (got) pure intentions,” he said – no hidden agendas. “I just want to do what’s right for the people.”

He’s already hearing from people who have concerns about the property tax rates and having a revenue-neutral budget. He also puts public education and the future of the county jail on his priority list.

He said Sam Watkins and his brother George always had a vision of what Henderson could be – and it’s a vision he shares. “I’ve always wanted to put the youth in Henderson in that vision,” he said, “to let them know there’s a brighter day ahead.”

In his mind’s eye, he pictures George congratulating him on his work and for receiving the award that bears his brother’s name. “I can see George now, shaking my hand and saying ‘I’m proud of you. You’re doing good things. I think my brother would be proud of you, too.’”

Looking at his name on the same plaque that bears not only Watkins’s name, but other recipients, Turrentine said, simply, “I’m in some good company.”

 

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TownTalk: Virtual Information Session for Vance County Schools

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Despite Tuesday night’s snow “event,” tonight’s virtual information session for prospective families in Vance County Schools will go on as planned. Parents can log in via a link on the school district’s website https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/and connect with principals of the five campuses designated as Innovative Schools. The event begins at 6 p.m.

“All five principals will be on to answer any questions about the schools,” said VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Support Aarika Sandlin. Applications are available online and are due by Feb. 7.

“We try to meet our families where they are,” Sandlin said of the in-person and virtual offerings for parents, who may be interested in learning more about the Innovative Schools in the district. Three schools have already had info sessions at their campuses, but two remain: E.M. Rollins STEAM will hold an on-site session Thursday, Jan. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Vance County Early College will hold an info session at its location in Building 2 at Vance-Granville Community College on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Delivering information across a variety of platforms is important for district leadership to make sure parents stay updated on school programs and processes.

Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor-Crosson, executive director of Federal Programs and Elementary Education, said student safety and instructional practices are what’s top-of-mind for parents and families.

“We are so excited to offer Vance County Schools to our families and our young students,” she said. As a former kindergarten teacher and elementary principal, Batchelor-Crosson said she understands the importance of getting youngsters off on the right foot in school.

Parent engagement sessions are held throughout the year to help keep families informed. Sandlin said future family engagement sessions include a Jan. 23 session for English as a Second Language Arabic-speaking families, and a Feb. 27 session on internet safety.

Visit https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/ to learn more.

 

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Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Creates VGCC Presidential Scholarship With $25K Donation

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– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established a Presidential Scholar Award with a $25,000 donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation.

As a result of this donation to The VGCC Foundation, a $1,250 scholarship will be awarded to a student each year, beginning with the Fall 2025 semester. This is the fifth scholarship that the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established at VGCC to support a well-educated healthcare workforce, according to VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

“We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation,” said Tanya Weary, Executive Director of The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. “This newly created scholarship will make a significant impact on the lives of students by enabling them to pursue their educational dreams at Vance-Granville Community College.”

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit regional grant-making organization that supports and invests in initiatives that result in immediate and long-term improvement in the health status of the region. The organization focuses on Vance, Warren, Franklin and Granville counties – the same four counties served by VGCC. It was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation.

The VGCC Foundation has more than 300 endowed scholarships for students—awarding more endowed scholarships than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. In addition to providing scholarships and emergency assistance to deserving students, VGCCF supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training, and economic development in our community.

Individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups and churches have endowed scholarships, as well as VGCC faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation have been used to honor or remember a person, group, busines or industry with a lasting gift to education.

To learn more about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252.738.3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu. For information about other scholarships available to Vance-Granville Community College students, please visit www.vgcc.edu/fao/scholarships.

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Early Season Planting

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On today’s program – As February approaches and with gardening planning underway, discussed were a few recommendations for early-season planting. Also, highlighted were several large events coming up for farmers. And, the Vance County Regional Farmers Market is seeking community input to form a community garden.

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

Vegetable Planting Calendar https://go.ncsu.edu/vegplantcalendar

Tobacco Production and Gap Meeting http://go.ncsu.edu/uppermiddletobacco25

Grain Production Meeting http://go.ncsu.edu/negrainmeeting25

Vance County Extension Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vanceextension