Vance County Sheriff's Office

Foul Play Suspected As Unresponsive Man Dies

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— Press release information from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame —

On August 6, 2021 shortly before 8:00 a.m., the Vance County 911 Center received a call for service regarding a subject possibly passed out.

The caller stated that a male subject was located in the front yard of a residence located at 1609 Nicholas Street, Henderson N.C.

Upon the arrival of EMS and law enforcement, a black male identified as Xavier A Vann was located on the ground a short distance from the front door of the residence. The subject was unresponsive at that time. The victim was transported to Maria Parham and then subsequently flown to Duke Hospital in Durham where he was later pronounced deceased.

Anyone with information regarding this incident are urged to contact either the Vance County Sheriff’s Office or the Vance County 911 Center.

This investigation is ongoing.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

The Local Skinny: Covid Data for Vance and Granville Counties

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— Info Courtesy of Granville Vance Public Health —

Covid Local Data Update previous 7 days ending Saturday, August 7th

In the past 7 days, there have been 42 new cases in Vance County, a 16.67% increase from the week before. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 6.03%. According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, there is substantial community transmission in Vance County.

In the past 7 days, there have been 63 new cases in Granville County, a 6.78% increase from the week before. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 5.64%. According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Granville County.

In Vance County, 50.5% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 40.8% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 58% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 50.6% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina, 62% of the adult population is at least partially vaccinated and 58% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

CDC Moratorium Temporarily Halts Residential Evictions Until Oct 3

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CDC issues new temporary moratorium to halt residential evictions through Oct. 3

HOPE Program still accepting applications for emergency rental assistance

— press release courtesy of the N.C. Department of Public Safety —

RALEIGH—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new residential eviction moratorium that will offer protection from eviction for most renters in North Carolina. The moratorium, which will remain in effect through Oct. 3, 2021, applies in U.S. counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggers COVID-19. The CDC has found that evictions of tenants for failure to pay rent could be detrimental to public health measures designed to slow the spread of the virus. Most North Carolina renters would be eligible for protection from eviction under the order, with some important exceptions.

As of today, only four North Carolina counties do not meet the new eviction moratorium criteria, including Bertie, Hertford, Hyde and Warren counties. The status of these and other counties could change in the future depending on COVID-19 transmission levels.

Renters throughout the rest of the state who currently meet the eligibility criteria may present a declaration form to their landlord and receive protection from eviction. Renters can also find additional resources online through NC 211 and the HUD Rental Housing Counseling and Eviction Prevention Program, which includes contact information for local housing counselors.

Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance

The N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (HOPE) continues to provide rent and utility assistance to low-income renters in 88 counties that are experiencing financial hardship due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Since opening last fall, HOPE has awarded more than $328 million to ​North Carolina households, with ​$245 million already paid to landlords and utility companies statewide.

Information about the HOPE Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits and an online application, is available at www.HOPE.NC.gov. Applicants who cannot access the website should call 888-9ASK-HOPE (888-927-5467) for help with the application process. The HOPE Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both English- and Spanish-speaking representatives are available to assist callers.

As of last week, the HOPE Program is also accepting landlord referrals of tenants who are struggling to pay rent due to the pandemic. Landlords can submit tenant names and contact information through the HOPE Program website or by contacting the HOPE Call Center at 888-9ASK-HOPE (888-927-5467). A program specialist will then follow up with the tenant to help start the application process.

In addition to the HOPE Program, 12 counties and five Native American tribes received direct federal funding to manage local emergency rental assistance programs. More information about the areas served by HOPE and local programs is available at the HOPE Interactive Map.

The HOPE Program is managed by the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, a division of the Department of Public Safety. To learn more about the HOPE Program, visit www.HOPE.NC.gov

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Home Credit Corp Donates to New Hope Elementary

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Of the many positive things Vance County Schools does, one of them is the effort that is placed in building relationships between VCS and the business, faith and civic community.

Friday at New Hope Elementary School, between Williamsboro and Townsville, Home Credit Corporation’s Bryan Yount presented Principal Letitia Fields with a check for $500.  The two are former classmates at North Vance High School, and Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin stated in a release on behalf of Vance County Schools, “We are proud to see our alumni supporting one another through partnerships within our schools.”

Sandlin indicated in the statement that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett joined the presentation, and Yount challenged “other businesses and civic groups to partner with our district’s schools to help make a difference.”

Farmers Market Advisory Board Meeting Thurs, Aug 12

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board will meet Thursday, August 12 at 2 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Farmers Market at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson, just off Beckford Drive.

These meetings are open to the public.

For additional information, call 252 438 8188 or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.

While public attendance is meant for observation, to be sure you can speak with others there after the meeting.  Hanging around after a meeting is a good way to see if new things may be on the horizon for the market and a chance to provide some input if there are things you would like to see.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Safe Routes Program Encourages Biking And Walking To School

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There may be a couple of bike racks outside some school buildings in the area, but gone are the days that students’ bicycles fill those racks during the day while children are in class. The familiar crosswalks still function, but they are more for students getting out of cars than for those who have walked from their nearby homes.

Kisha High recognizes that rural areas and small towns may face challenges when they encourage children to walk or bike to school, but the Safe Routes to School program does more than just promote those practices.

High is the Safe Route to Schools program coordinator for the Kerr-Tar COG. She spoke with WIZS News about all the ways her program can have positive impacts on schoolchildren – on or off school campuses.

“The name can be misleading,” High said. “It’s not just about school – you’re a pedestrian when you’re in the parking lot at the grocery store.” By sharing information about safety practices when people are in areas where there also are vehicles, High said the program can improve overall safety and health.

The program is funded by federal and state departments of transportation. It’s a non-infrastructure grant, so her efforts are largely aimed at outreach. Whether it’s a Back To School event or a walking competition within a particular school, she’s willing and ready to participate or help organize.

She will be at the Back to School Bash in Oxford tomorrow, for example, raising awareness about how important it is to be healthy and how important it is to be safe.

Although the program’s mission is to promote walking and biking to schools, she added the words “where possible” to take into account that there aren’t many sidewalks in rural communities and schools are in more centralized locations.

But children may still walk to bus stops, for example, and it’s important for them to understand safety rules, she said.

Friendly competitions are one way to promote walking as a way for children to exercise. High said students at West Oxford Elementary in Granville County used pedometers last spring to track their steps. They calculated their mileage in a “Walking to Tokyo” race in advance of the Olympics.

Whether walking to school, in the store parking lot, or the neighborhood, safety should be top of mind, High said.

“We’re all pedestrians at some point during the day,” she added.

For more details, listen below.

VGCC’s Dean Kali Brown Selected For Statewide Leadership Academy

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Kali Brown, dean of student access and support at Vance-Granville Community College, has been accepted to participate in the 2021 Chief Student Development Administrators Leadership Academy.

This academy, developed through the North Carolina Community College System, invites a select number of administrative leaders from the state’s 58 community colleges to participate each year in the program, according to a press statement from VGCC.

Over the course of several months, participants will study multiple topics, including best practices for serving students, continuous improvement, communications, higher education legal issues, and resource management.

“We congratulate Dean Kali Brown on being recognized as a leader in our state’s community college system, and we know that she will use what she learns in the academy to support our Vanguards,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais.

Brown is a resident of Franklinton and has worked for VGCC since 2011, when she joined the college’s financial aid office. She moved from assistant director of financial aid to director in 2013. She was named VGCC staff member of the year in 2015-16. She became dean of student support services in 2017 and has been in her current role since 2019.

“I am absolutely delighted to be selected into the 2021 Chief Student Development Administrators Leadership Academy, which provides an exceptional networking opportunity to learn from experts and leaders in the field of student services,” Brown said

Brown previously worked in financial aid and student services at her alma mater, Arkansas State University as well as Arkansas State University – Newport (a community college), and Pulaski Technical College in Arkansas. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Arkansas State, and a master’s degree in higher education – educational leadership at Liberty University.

While at VGCC, Brown has served on various committees, including the strategic enrollment management committee, academic affairs committee, marketing advisory council, scholarships committee, leadership & planning council and the recruitment & retention committee.

She is a 2018 graduate of the N.C. Community College Leadership program and has trained other professionals throughout the state by conducting workshops sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the N.C. Community College System and the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.